By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala suffered a 6-4, 6-3 defeat to veteran Spaniard Georgina Garcia-Perez in the quarterfinals of the W60 Barcelona in Spain on Friday, Aug. 4 (Saturday in Manila).
Though earning a spot through wildcard in the $60,000 event, the 31-year-old Garcia-Perez leaned on her experience to dispose of Eala and march into the semis against fifth seed Arina Rodionova.
It was a heartbreaking one for Eala, who came into game emboldened by a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over second seeded German Eva Lys in the second round.
Eala did play tough especially in the first set but the Spaniard proved too strong for her.
She was seeking a fourth International Tennis Federation (ITF) title after winning the W25 Yecla also in Spain last month.
She earned a first-round victory after her Latvian rival Diana Marcinkevica retired while Eala was leading 3-0.
Eala was also unsuccessful in doubles after she and British partner Emilie Lindh yielded to Marcinkevica and Estelle Cascino of France, 4-6, 6-3, 10-3, in the opening round a few days ago.
