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Alex Eala yields to German foe in first round of Madrid Open

Sports

Alex Eala yields to German foe in first round of Madrid Open

By Kristel Satumbaga-Villar

Alex Eala continued her struggle in the pro scene this year after getting booted out in the first round of the 2023 Mutua Madrid Open at the La Caja Magica claycourt in Spain Wednesday, April 26.

*Alex Eala bows out of the 2023 Madrid Open. (File Photo/Alex Eala's Facebook page)

*

The 17-year-old Eala succumbed to world No. 71 Tatjana Maria of Germany, 6-1, 6-1, in just 70 minutes of action, ending her ambitious bid to make an impact in the prestigious Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 event. Eala and Maria broke each other’s serves at the start of the match before the 35-year-old German broke again in the third game to gain the 2-1 lead. It was enough for Maria to dictate the pace in the set, despite Eala’s attempts particularly in the seventh game where the Filipina teen sensation led 30-0, only to lose. Armed with experience and three WTA titles, Maria went on a rampage in the second frame with a 3-0 lead before Eala held her serve in the fourth game. But the German was quick to recover and took charge in the fifth to never look back. A victory for Eala could have arranged her a second-round match with American 28^thseed Bernarda Pera, who earned an opening-round bye. Eala has yet to win her first pro title this year after clinching two crowns the previous two years – the W15 Manacor in 2021 and the W25 Chiang Rai in 2022.

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