Alex Eala exits W60 tournament after bowing to hometown bet

Alex Eala. RAFA NADAL ACAMDEY PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Alex Eala’s journey in Switzerland has come to an end after she absorbed a three-set loss to hometown bet Simona Waltert, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 in the third round of ITF W60 Bellinzona tournament Thursday (Manila time).

This was the third match between Eala and Waltert with the 20-year-old Swiss prospect now holding two wins against the Filipino teen prodigy.

The 15-year-old Eala won her first match against Waltert back in March in the W25 Manacor tiff, 6-1, 6-4, but lost the second, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, in the W25 Manacor tournament.

Great work in Switzerland! Alex Eala 🇵🇭 has achieved two important victories at the @ITFTennis tournament in Bellonzona and will climb more than 200 places in the @WTA rankings. VAMOS! MABUHAY! pic.twitter.com/I4q0K7dYFK

— Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar (@rnadalacademy) April 9, 2021

A Rafa Nadal Academy scholar, Elala powered through her first matches in Switzerland defeating World No. 323 Margot Yerolymos of France, 7-6 (6), 6-2, in the first round and World No. 206 Laura-Ioana Paar of Romania, 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-0, in the second.

“Alex Eala has achieved two important victories at the @ITFTennis tournament in Bellonzona and will climb more than 200 places in the WTA rankings. VAMOS! MABUHAY!” tweeted the academy.

Eala has yet to win another title after her W15 Manacor championship in January when she defeated Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 in Spain.