STUTTGART, Germany — Filipino tennis player Alex Eala exited the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in the first round after losing to Filipino-Canadian player Leylah Fernandez, 1-6, 4-6, on Wednesday morning (Manila time) in Stuttgart, Germany.
Fernandez, ranked No. 25 in the world, took control of the opening set by winning the first five games before Eala held serve to avoid a shutout. Fernandez maintained her lead to close the set.
In the second set, Eala kept pace early but trailed 2-3 before Fernandez won consecutive games to move within one game of victory at 5-2. Eala extended the match by breaking serve and holding her own to narrow the gap to 4-5, but Fernandez secured the win in the 10th game.
Fernandez will face either Zeynep Sönmez or Jasmine Paolini in the second round.
Eala will next compete in the Mutua Madrid Open, which begins on April 21.