By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala failed to sustain her recent twin victories in Spain after crashing out early of the 2024 Polish Open in Warsaw on Tuesday, July 23.
The fourth-seeded Eala yielded to lower-ranked but more experienced Isabella Shinikova of Bulgaria, 6-4, 6-4, in the opening round of the $125,000 Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) event.
Eala, who recently improved to a career-high No. 143, couldn’t assert her might against the world No. 304 Shinikova as the Filipina standout dropped her serve four times.
A victory for Eala could have arranged her a second-round meeting with Australian Destanee Aiava, who routed Serbian Natalija Stevanovic, 6-3, 6-2.
Eala still has a chance to extend her winning run in the doubles as she and Latvian partner Darja Semenistaja clash with Polish second seed Martyna Kubka and Weronika Falkowska.
It can be recalled that Eala clinched her first ITF doubles title with Semenistaja at the W50 Pune in India last January.
