Alexandra Eala and Wang Xinyu moved within one win of their first WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz singles title on Friday, Jan. 9, after both delivered composed quarterfinal victories to reach the ASB Classic semifinals in Auckland. The result guarantees that a first-time finalist will emerge when the two meet for the first time on tour.

Eala, the No. 5 seed, defeated fourth seed Magda Linette 6-3, 6-2 to record her first career win over the veteran Pole. Wang, seeded seventh, advanced when Francesca Jones retired with a right thigh injury while trailing during the second set of their quarterfinal match.

Both players are bidding for a place in their second career tour-level singles final. Each previously came close to lifting a trophy during last summer’s grass-court season.

Eala sharpens edge after early scare

Eala’s Auckland campaign began under pressure when she dropped the opening set of her first-round match before mounting a controlled comeback. That early test appears to have sharpened her level rather than slowed her momentum.

Since then, the Filipina has been dominant, conceding just seven games across her next two matches. Her aggressive returning repeatedly placed opponents on the defensive from the opening games.

Against Linette, Eala generated 14 break-point chances and converted six, allowing her to dictate play without letting the match drift. She also saved five of seven break points to maintain control throughout the contest.

Wang seeks hard-court breakthrough

Wang followed a similar trajectory earlier in the week, rallying from a set down in her opening match before settling into cleaner, more assertive tennis. Her confidence has grown with each round in Auckland.

Before Jones was forced to retire, Wang had already taken charge by breaking serve early in both sets. She controlled the tempo despite her opponent’s resistance and physical limitations.

The semifinal offers Wang a chance to end a difficult hard-court pattern, as she has yet to win a tour-level semifinal on the surface. It also presents an opportunity to become the first Chinese singles champion at the ASB Classic since Zheng Jie’s title run in 2012.