Manila, July 30 -- Filipino tennis star Alexandra Eala dethroned defending champion and No. 7 seed Leylah Fernandez, 6-1, 7-6 (2), Friday to reach the WTA 500 Mubadala Open in Washington, USA.

The win avenged Eala's 1-6, 4-6 loss to the Canadian in the first round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on clay in Stuttgart, Germany last April 14.

"I know that she was playing a little better, and maybe my level dropped a little bit," said the 21-year-old Eala of her second-set comeback during the post-match interview.

"Those are very tricky moments, when you know your level has dropped and you want to do better, but things for one reason or another just aren't coming out. I think patience was key there, just trying to work it out, and a stron...