By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala’s impressive run against hometown bets came to a halt in the second qualifying round of the W100 Shrewsbury tournament after yielding to a more experienced rival Monday, Oct. 31 (early Tuesday in Manila) in Great Britain.
Eala, 17, succumbed to 24-year-old Maia Lumsden, 6-1, 7-5.
A victory could have set up Eala a main draw first-round meeting with fellow qualifier Joanna Garland of Chinese Taipei, in this tournament staking $100,000 cash prizes.
Prior to the loss, Eala beat British foe Ranah Akua Stoiber, 6-3, 6-1, in the first round qualifying.
The Filipina is coming off a semifinal finish at the W80 Poitiers in France over the weekend where she went through two qualifying matches – both against hometown rivals. She hurdled her first round assignment by also beating a Frenchwoman.
