Asian Games: Eala, Alcantara beats Thai pair, advances to mixed doubles semis

Alex Eala and Francis Casey Alcantara swept their higher-seeded Thai foes Luksika Kumkhum and Maximo Jones, 6-4, 6-4, to at least secure a bronze medal in the tennis mixed doubles of the 19th Asian Games.

The first-time Filipino pair, seeded 14th in the tournament, only needed one hour and 19 minutes to overcome the 11th seed from Thailand and reach the semifinals on Thursday, September 28, in Hangzhou, China.

Eala showed no signs of fatigue to help Alcantara overcome a 2-3 game deficit in both sets, closing the frames with a 4-1 finish. The Filipina tennis sensation came from a more than three-hour battle against world number 23 and China's Zheng Qinwen before bowing out of the women's singles title race.

With their triumph in the quarterfinals, Eala is assured of becoming the first-ever Filipino athlete in the continental showpiece to win multiple medals.

She is also set to become the most bemedaled tennis player since Cecil Mamiit in 2006.

Meanwhile, Alcantara will earn his first Asiad medal.

The duo can shoot for more history come Friday, September 29, if they barge into the finale, ensuring the country's best finish in Asian Games tennis in nearly six decades.