MELBOURNE, Australia — Filipino tennis player Alexandra Eala exited the Australian Open women’s singles in the first round on Monday when American Alycia Parks rallied for a 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory on Court 6 in Melbourne, where Eala made her main-draw debut at age 20 before a large group of flag-waving supporters.
Spectators formed a long queue outside Court 6 and chanted Eala’s name as they created a football-style atmosphere that Eala used to dominate the opening set without losing a game.
Parks adjusted her game in the second set, reduced her errors and increased her first-serve effectiveness to level the match at one set all.
Parks maintained her momentum in the deciding set, broke Eala’s serve multiple times and closed out the match in straight sets after two hours of play.
Eala entered the tournament with a career-high WTA ranking of No. 49, which she achieved after reaching the semifinals of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, the previous week.
Tournament organizers scheduled Eala for doubles competition later in the Australian Open, where she will continue her campaign in Melbourne.
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek advanced to the second round of the Australian Open women’s singles after winning her opening match on Monday.
American Coco Gauff also progressed to the second round on Monday as she secured a first-round victory in her women’s singles match.
Swiatek and Gauff joined other seeded players who moved into the next round as the first week of the year’s opening Grand Slam continued at Melbourne Park.
Officials recorded strong attendance at the outside courts, where fans watched matches involving emerging players such as Eala alongside top-ranked stars.
