Alexandra Eala rolls over Dayana Yastremska in Eastbourne for second WTA semifinal

Four unseeded women advanced to the semifinals of the Lexus Eastbourne Open Thursday, including Alexandra Eala.

The 20-year-old impressed in her quarterfinal with Dayana Yastremska, breaking seven times in a decisive 6-1, 6-2 victory. Eala is through to the final four of a WTA event for the second time this season, following her breakout run at the Miami Open where she ousted Iga Swiatek among others.

The left-handed Filipino is one of two semifinalists seeking a maiden tour-level triumph this week, alongside Varvara Gracheva. The two will clash Friday after her fellow qualifier received a walkover from defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova due to a right thigh injury.

🖥️📱 Stream Eala vs. Gracheva live here on TennisChannel.com (estimated start time 6 a.m. ET, Friday, June 27)

Eala overcame Gracheva just 12 days ago to claim their Nottingham qualifying showdown in a decider, also on grass.

The most experienced competitor remaining is Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The holder of 12 WTA crowns, the 33-year-old surged past Kamilla Rakhimova, 6-2, 2-6, 6-0, after two hours and five minutes.

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Pavlyuchenkova is bidding to lift her first grass-court trophy, as Maya Joint of Australia awaits. The 19-year-old, who celebrated her first WTA title on clay in Rabat last month, closed out a 6-4, 7-5 win over Anna Blinkova.

On the men’s side, defending champion Taylor Fritz battled past compatriot Marcos Giron. The top seed prevailed, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, to line up a meeting with sixth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The Spaniard upended third-seeded Jakub Mensik, 6-4, 7-5.

Fourth seed Ugo Humbert and lucky loser Jenson Brooksby are set to face off in the other semifinal. Both dashed local hopes in straight sets, with Humbert easing past Billy Harris and Brooksby sinking Daniel Evans.