Overview
- Eala defeated world No. 2 Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-4 in Berlin on Thursday after coming back from 4-1 down to notch her fifth career top-10 win.
- She followed that with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Elina Svitolina on Friday to reach the Berlin Open semi-finals and set up a last-four match with Linda Noskova.
- The Berlin results lifted Eala to about world No. 31 in the WTA live rankings, a jump that effectively locks in a seed for Wimbledon.
- Rybakina withdrew from the next grass event, Bad Homburg, citing discomfort in her right hip, a development that complicates her short-term challenge to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
- Eala’s run builds on recent grass form — a WTA 125 title in Birmingham and a win over Donna Vekic — and highlights her improved return, mental composure, and the likelihood she will be a genuine threat at Wimbledon.