By NIKOLE JAVIER
Alex Eala won’t see the end of the W60 Hamburg as she crashed out of the second round on Thursday, Oct. 20 (Friday in Manila time) at the Hamburger Tennis-Verband, Germany.
The 17-year-old, whose WTA ranking rose to a career-high No. 248, was handed an early exit by top seed Ysaline Bonaventure of Belgium, who was 11 years her senior, 6-4, 6-0.
Eala gamely battled Bonaventure in the first set, coming through with an array of beautiful shots to highlight their intense duel marked by several service breaks.
For the last time, Eala broke the Belgian’s serve in the 8th game that enabled her to knot the count at 4-all.
But Bonaventure broke back in the next before engaging Eala in a fiery exchange of shots in the 10th game that saw them battle to four deuces.
The Belgian’s experience proved to be a big difference as she finally clinched the set.
Tired and all, the reigning US Open Juniors champion lost steam and was dominated in the second but not after coming through with some wicked shots of her own.
Eala came into the game inspired by a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian Ekaterina Kazionova in the first round two days ago.
Meanwhile, the reigning US Open girls’ champion will try her luck at the W80 Poitiers in France on Oct. 24 to 30.
