By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala put up a gallant stand but lost steam in the end and succumbed to Mai Hontama of Japan, 7-6 (5), 6-2, in the second round of the L&T Mumbai Open in India on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
The unseeded Eala fought fiercely in the opening set, but stumbled in the tiebreak that gave her Japanese rival full control of the second frame to advance to the quarterfinals.
Except for the Workday Canberra International in Australia last January, a similar Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 125 event with the Mumbai tilt, Eala has never made it past the second round in her latest tournaments.
The 19-year-old Filipina standout also needs to perform well in the doubles if she is to go deep.
She is teaming up with Chinese Taipei’s Tsao Chia Yi in the doubles where they are drawn against second seed Elena Pridankina and Amina Anshba in the opening round.
