Alex Eala lost steam and yielded to second seed Mexican foe Renata Zarazua with a pulsating 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 loss to bow out in the quarterfinals of the Cary Tennis Classic in North Carolina early Friday, Aug. 16 (Manila time).

The Filipina tennis ace couldn’t sustain a strong start to the contest as her Mexican counterpart, displaying poise and experience, stormed back in the second set before she dictated the tempo in the decider to end Eala’s campaign in the $100,000 International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament.

Eala actually came out firing and broke Zarazua’s serve twice to take a commanding 4-1 lead before safely cruising to a comfortable first set win. 

The unseeded Filipina kept her momentum and looked to be on her way to a sweep after seizing a 4-2 lead in the second set until the Mexican started rallying back for the equalizer.

The experience of the 26-year-old Zarazua, who made it to as far as the Round of 64 in the 2020 French Open and has competed in the main draw of the last three Grand Slams this year, was in full display as she swept the next four games to force the decider.

Riding the momentum of the second set win,  Zarazua, ranked No. 104 in WTA, took a 3-0 lead in the third set. The 19-year-old Eala refused to go down without a fight and came within 4-3 but that proved to be the last stand for the Filipina as her serve was broken by the Mexican to regain control and eventually close out the contest.

With the loss, Eala, has now suffered her second straight quarterfinals exit after also bowing out in the last eight of the W100 Landisville a few days ago.