By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala’s impressive run came to a halt, losing to 28-year-old Marcela Zacarias of Mexico, 6-2, 7-5, in the quarterfinal round of the W80 Rancho Santa Fe International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament in California Friday, Oct. 7 (Saturday in Manila).
The 17-year-old junior tennis sensation threw almost everything she can which her veteran rival figured it out.
Zacarias set the pace as she cruised to a 5-0 lead before Eala fought back in the second frame.
Eala had 4-2 and 5-3 leads, but the Mexican managed to erase, thus advancing to the semis.
Still, it was an impressive feat for Eala as she had to undergo two qualifying matches against Latvia’s Deniza Marcinkevica, 6-1, 6-3, and hometown bet Alana Smith, 6-0, 6-0, to make it to the main draw.
Prior to her defeat, Eala survived American Dalayna Hewitt, 6-1, 2-6, 6-0, in the first round, and Canadian Katherine Sebov, 7-6 (6), 6-2, in the second round.
