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Alex Eala bows to world No. 21 Elise Mertens in Madrid Open second round

Sports

Alex Eala bows to world No. 21 Elise Mertens in Madrid Open second round

By Kristel Satumbaga-Villar

At A Glance

The Filipina ace couldn't muster her might in overcoming world No. 21 Elise Mertens, absorbing a 2-6, 1-6 loss in this Women's Tennis Association (WTA1000) tournament.

Alex Eala. (File Photo/ AP)

Alex Eala. (File Photo/ AP)

Alex Eala suffered another exit in clay after yielding in the second round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Friday, April 24.

The Filipina ace couldn’t muster her might in overcoming world No. 21 Elise Mertens, absorbing a 2-6, 1-6 loss in this Women’s Tennis Association (WTA1000) tournament.

Mertens, also the world’s top doubles player, broke Eala’s serve in the opening game to dictate the tempo early and then went on to win the last three games for the set win.

The 30-year-old Belgian was even more aggressive in the second set, cruising to a 4-0 lead and never looked back.

So powerful was Mertens that she converted 75 percent on her first-serve wins compared to 47 percent from Eala.

With the loss, Eala now shifts her focus in the doubles with Turkish partner Zeynep Sonmez as they clash with second seed Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova in the Round of 16.

Townsend and Siniakova made their title campaign felt after edging Lyudmyla Kichenok and Desirae Krawcyzk, 3-6, 6-1, 10-8.

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Alex Eala WTA

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