By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala yielded to Russian Maria Timofeeva, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, to crash out early in the 2024 Makarska Open in Croatia on Wednesday, June 5.
The unseeded Eala couldn’t sustain her hot start and succumbed to Timofeeva’s hard serves in the opening round of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA125) claycourt tournament.
Overall, the Russian unloaded four aces to make up for her six double faults while winning five break points.
A victory for Eala could have set her up a second round date with second seed Mayar Sherif of Egypt, who clipped Darja Semenistaja of Latvia, 6-1, 6-3.
This was the first tournament for Eala, who is currently ranked No. 157 in the WTA singles, after her stint at the French Open where she came up one win short of making into the main draw.
At the said Grand Slam, she routed China’s Ma YeXin, 6-1, 6-1, and survived Australia’s Taylah Preston, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, before bowing to Argentina’s Julia Riera, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4.
