All news tagged WTA

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz made a powerful statement by advancing to the Wimbledon semifinals for the third consecutive year, delivering a commanding straight-sets victory over Britain’s Cameron Norrie.

Alcaraz, the towering Spanish world No. 2, showcased his highest level of play in the tournament thus far, needing a mere 99 minutes to overwhelm Norrie with a score of 6-2, 6-3, 6-3, setting the stage for an eagerly anticipated semifinal clash against American fifth seed Taylor Fritz.

"To be able to play another semifinal here at Wimbledon is super special," Alcaraz said.

After a series of uneven performances that saw him drop four sets on his way to the quarterfinals, Alcaraz has rediscovered his dominant form, unleashing an impressive 39 winners against the beleaguered British No. 61 on the iconic Center Court.

At just 21 years old, the Spaniard is riding a remarkable career-best 23-match winning streak, a run that began after his defeat to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final last April. This remarkable winning streak includes triumphs at prestigious tournaments such as the French Open, Rome Masters, and Monte Carlo.

Having dethroned Novak Djokovic in the last two Wimbledon finals, Alcaraz boasts an impressive 34-3 record on grass at the Tour level. His only loss at the All England Club came in the 2022 fourth round against Jannik Sinner, underscoring his elite status on this formidable surface.

"It's going to be great. I'm really happy with the way I played against a really difficult player," Alcaraz added.

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala continued her impressive form as she marched into the Round of 16 at the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal, overcoming Dutch player Anouk Koevermans in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, on Tuesday, April 15 (Manila time).

Despite a lengthy rain delay that interrupted their first-round match, the 19-year-old top seed in the WTA 125 event kept her composure. The match, originally set for Monday, was halted with Eala trailing 2-4 in the second set. Once play resumed, she flipped the script and surged ahead to close out the win efficiently.

“There were definitely some challenges,” Eala shared after her victory. “I’m happy how I came back out on the court.”

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala is back in action and making headlines once again — this time not just for her powerful play, but also for achieving a new career milestone. 

Fresh off her historic run at the Miami Open, the 19-year-old continues to climb the WTA rankings and now enters the clay court season with momentum on her side.

As of April 14, Eala has officially reached a career-high world ranking of No. 72, gaining three spots since her sensational semi final-finish in Miami. 

Starting that tournament as World No. 140, she shocked the tennis world by taking down some of the biggest names in the game — including Madison Keys, Jelena Ostapenko, and top seed Iga Swiatek — before narrowly falling to Jessica Pegula in a gritty three-set match.

Now, after a short break from competition, Eala returns to the court at the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal, her first appearance on clay this season. Notably, she enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed — a first for the young star in any WTA-level event.

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala has etched her name in history, securing a spot in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open.

The 19-year-old moved forward after Spain’s Paula Badosa, ranked No. 11 in the world, withdrew due to a lower back injury during their Round of 16 matchup on Monday, March 24 (Tuesday, March 25, Manila time).

Eala’s stellar performance throughout the tournament already included massive upsets. She stunned the World No. 5 and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys, as well as No. 25 and 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko, to advance to the fourth round.