SIXTH-SEED Swiss netter Viktorija Golubic prevailed with her experience and finesse as she put away fourth-seeded Alexandra Eala, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(7-0), on Friday at the Suzhou Open WTA 125 tournament’s quarterfinals in China.
The 32-year-old Golubic, who has won two singles’ titles on the WTA Tour, held Eala scoreless in the 13th game tiebreak of the final set of their 141-minute clash.
The 20-year-old Eala was forced into numerous errors with long baseline returns during the final game.
The world no. 90 Golubic went on to advance to the semifinals, for a clash with German Tatjana Maria, who won by default over Kazakh netter Yulia Putintseva.
With her exit, Eala earned 27 points and $3,450, which around P199,782.61.
The seasoned Golubic, known for being tactical with the variety of shots that she mastered in her arsenal of tricks, forced the tiebreak when she held serve in the 11th game.
That was when Eala’s two passing shots from the baseline went out of bounds, and into the net, putting the game into a 6-all tie, following a deuce.
Earlier in the third set, Eala fought her way out of a 1-2 deficit, and into a 6-5 lead when she broke Golubic’s service, after the Swiss sent a return shot straight and out.
Eala, who is skilled with her powerful strokes and aggressive approach, took the momentum in the first set after she fought her way out of a 2-all tie, and broke serve twice for a 6-2 first-set edge.
Eala reached the quarterfinals after weathering another long and difficult game, and played more than three hours to beat world no. 72 Belgian Greet Minnen for a 7-6 (7-5), 6-7(3-7), 7-5 win.
