Alex Eala took a step towards qualification to the main draw of the 2025 Nottingham Open after a three-set win over Varvara Gracheva, on Saturday, June 14, in the United Kingdom.

Eala recovered from a letdown in the second set to eliminate Gracheva, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

She will now need to defeat Anca Todoni of Romania to earn one of the six qualifying spots to the main draw.

It’s a bounce-back win for Eala, who had just lost to Canada’s Rebecca Marino in the quarterfinals of the Ilkley Open on Thursday, June 12.

The Filipina broke Gracheva’s serve for a 5-2 advantage, but was broken right back as the Russian player stayed alive.

Eala kept her composure, however, and broke back in the next game to seal the victory.

Todoni, currently ranked 88th by the WTA, had swept home bet Jodie Burrage 7-6 (7-2), 6-1, in an earlier match to progress. (ABS-CBN News)