MANILA, Philippines– Filipino tennis player Alex Eala was defeated by defending champion Rebecca Marino of Canada in a closely contested match at the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 125 Lexus Ilkley Open quarterfinals on Friday (Manila time). The final score was 6-1, 0-6, 6(4)-7.
Eala, 20, staged a strong comeback in the deciding set, overcoming a 4-5 deficit and saving a 40-0 advantage held by Marino in the ninth game to force a tiebreaker.
She started the tiebreaker with a 2-1 lead but Marino rallied with five consecutive points to reach match point. Eala saved two match points, but Marino ultimately closed out the match.
The Canadian, ranked World No. 107, advanced to the semifinals, ending Eala’s run.
Earlier in the tournament, Eala opened with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory over Lizette Cabrera of Australia, followed by a 6-1, 6-2 win against Valentina Ryser of Switzerland to reach the quarterfinals.
Eala, currently World No. 77 and a graduate of the Rafa Nadal Academy, had a first-round exit in the Birmingham Open ten days prior.
