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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Eala yields to Czech rival, bows out early in Montreal

Eala yields to Czech rival, bows out early in Montreal

Published Jul 28, 2025 09:29 am

At A Glance

  • Alex Eala crashed out early in the National Bank Open after absorbing a tough 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 loss to former Grand Slam champion Marketa Vondrousova in the opening round in Montreal, Canada on Sunday, July 27 (early Monday, Philippine time).
Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines, plays a shot to Marketa Vondrousova, of the Czech Republic, during their first-round match at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines, plays a shot to Marketa Vondrousova, of the Czech Republic, during their first-round match at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Alex Eala crashed out early in the National Bank Open after absorbing a tough 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 loss to former Grand Slam champion Marketa Vondrousova in the opening round in Montreal, Canada on Sunday, July 27 (early Monday, Philippine time).
The 20-year-old Eala started strong against the hard-serving 2023 Wimbledon titlist but lost her steam in the next two sets in her first hard court tournament of the season.
Vondrousova, 26, struggled with her serve in the opening set, committing five double faults -- a weakness Eala capitalized on to take the first set.
But the left-handed Czech veteran roared back to life in the second frame, firing four aces on her way to breaking Eala’s serve twice, before adding three more aces in the deciding third to rule the match after two hours and six minutes.
A victory for Eala could have arranged her a second-round duel with a familiar rival in Marta Kostyuk, who earned an opening round bye.
Kostyuk and Eala faced each other last May at the Italian Open, where the world No. 26 Ukrainian won in straight sets.
The tournament is just one of the three Women’s Tennis Association (WTA1000) events lined up for Eala as she gears up for her upcoming main draw debut at the US Open next month.
She is next scheduled to compete in the Cincinnati Open in Ohio on Aug. 7 to 18 and the Monterrey Open in Mexico on Aug. 18 to 23.
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