At A Glance
- Alex Eala yielded to a more experienced rival in former world No. 1 doubles player Sara Errani, 6-0, 7-6 (3), in the quarterfinals for the Veneto Open in Gaiba, Italy on Saturday, June 22 (Manila time).
Alex Eala yielded to a more experienced rival in former world No. 1 doubles player Sara Errani, 6-0, 7-6 (3), in the quarterfinals for the Veneto Open in Gaiba, Italy on Saturday, June 22 (Manila time).

The 19-year-old Eala tried to recover from a lethargic opening set but couldn’t muster enough power against the fourth-seeded Errani, a 2012 Roland Garros finalist, to succumb in her first-ever quarters appearance in a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) event.
It was also a far cry from their first meeting in the first qualifying round at the Miami Open last March where the Filipina tennis sensation prevailed, 6-3, 6-1.
A victory for Eala could have set her up a semifinal clash with Bernarda Pera of the United States, who routed Kamilla Rakhimova, 6-3, 6-3.
The other semis pairing pit unseeded Swiss Susan Bandecchi and American Alycia Parks.
Still, it was an impressive run for Eala in this WTA125 event after kicking off her stint with a rousing win over French Carole Monnet in the opening round, 6-3, 7-5, and crowd favorite Giorgia Pedone in the second round, 6-3, 6-3.
Eala hopes her stint would still boost her to earn a qualifying round spot in the 2024 Wimbledon which begins on July 1.