YOUTH prevailed over experience this time as the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala pulled off a 6-3, 6-2 triumph against her former tormentor Magda Linette on Friday in the ASB Classic 2026 in Auckland, Zealand.
The seasoned Linette, 31, felt the power of Eala’s vastly improved forehand swings as the Polish pro went down in their quarterfinal clash in 97 minutes.
“I think I had a good performance today. I’m happy with how I handled the external factors, the wind, and playing Magda has always been difficult for me. She’s a very solid player, very consistent,” said the 20-year-old Eala, whose current ranking of no. 53 in the World Tennis Association is bound to jump several places in the 40s following three successive wins in the Auckland tournament.
“Winning three matches does help your morale, yes,” said Eala.
The win put Eala in the semifinals against Chinese pro Wang Xinyu, who prevailed after her clash with Britain’s Francesca Jones ended in retirement.
The seventh-seeded Wang, who will soon be in Manila for the Philippine Women’s Open WTA 125 netfest, was leading, 6-4 4-3, when Jones called it a day due to a leg injury.
“I think every match presents its own unique set of challenges, but I definitely do see improvement from last season,” said Eala.
Linette’s vast experience saw her reaching eight finals on the WTA Tour, to win three titles, to go with the semifinals of the 2023 Australian Open, as well.
Eala’s side-to-side baseline attacks put the world no. 53 Linette out of position for most of the first set.
With the count tied at 2-all, Eala picked up momentum, after holding serve in the fifth game, breaking serve in the sixth when Linette committed a net error, while rushing forward to attack, 4-2.
Her service winner in the seventh game allowed her to come close to getting the first set at 5-2.
After Eala took the first set off Linette’s out-of-bounds return in the final game, momentum swung in the Filipina sensation’s favor.
Eala raced to a 4-0 lead, before Linette managed to get two game points.
In two previous clashes, Linette had won both matches in straight sets, first in 2024 at the Abu Dhabi Open, with a 7-6, 6-1 win in the Round of 32, and then in the 2025 Nottingham Open, with a 6-4, 6-3 victory in the first round.
Eala’s doubles’ teammate Iva Jovic also reached the semis, after enduring a close match with Belgian Sofia Costoulas, for a 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) win.
Later in the day though, a visibly tired Eala and Jovic fell in the women’s doubles to the Chinese pair of Xu Yi Fan and Yang Zhaoxuan, 7-5, 6-3.
Xu and Yang took 86 minutes to get past Eala and Jovic, and make it to the finals against Han Yu Go and French netter Kristina Mladenovic.
Han and Mladenovic reached the finals after they won by default over American Cathy McNally and Indonesian Janice Tjen.
