Tennis-Eala shocks Rybakina in Berlin Open round of 16

Philippines' Alexandra Eala upset world number two Elena Rybakina 7-5 6-4 in the last 16 at the Berlin Open, her fifth win over a top-10 ranked opponent.

Tennis-Eala shocks Rybakina in Berlin Open round of 16
Elena Rybakina
  • Country:
  • Kazakhstan

World number two Elena ​Rybakina suffered another stumble ​in the lead up ‌to ​Wimbledon as Alexandra Eala beat her 7-5 6-4 in the last 16 ‌at the Berlin Open on Thursday. Kazakhstan's Rybakina, who won the Australian Open this year and will launch her bid for ‌a second Wimbledon crown later this month, had lost ‌to Katie Boulter in the quarter-finals at Queen's Club last week.

Eala, ranked 35th in the world, set out to avenge her loss to ⁠Rybakina ​in Rome ⁠in May as she picked out tight angles across the court that ⁠the second seed was unable to chase down. The 21-year-old from ​the Philippines sealed victory with a sharp crosscourt forehand ⁠that Rybakina misfired wide.

"I’m a little foggy right now. I think I’m ⁠still ​shaking. I was shaking on match point," Eala said after her fifth win over a top-10 ranked ⁠opponent. "(After the win) I called my dad. I don’t know. ⁠I said, ⁠oh my God. We were just screaming. My mom was there too. I'm really happy."

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