Eala reaches first career final

Gracheva faced Eala in the semifinals of the Eastbourne tournament. The two players had met only once before on the tour, last week on grass in Nottingham (a victory for the Filipina, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3).

After splitting the first two sets, the two qualifiers engaged in a tight start to the third set until the world No. 74 pulled ahead by breaking the Frenchwoman at 3-3. Solid on her serves, Eala sealed the match in 2 hours and 22 minutes with a score of 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.

Strong on grass this season, the Filipina has now claimed her 10th win in 13 matches on the surface and once again triumphed over Gracheva.

Having come through qualifying, she will compete in her first career tour final against the winner of the match between Jabeur and Pavlyuchenkova.