FILE–Alex Eala. Thailand ITF World Tennis Tour Photo
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala yielded to Hungary’s Anna Bondar, 6-0, 6-0, in the first round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Tuesday in Spain.
The 16-year-old Filipino, who earned her career-high ranking No. 394 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) last week, got schooled by the No.68 Bondar in just 61 minutes.
The 24-year-old Bondar faces Greet Minnen of Belgium on Wednesday in the second round of the tournament.
Eala was a wild card recipient in the qualifying draw after clinching her second pro title in the first leg of W25 Chiang Rai International Tennis Federation (ITF) event two weeks ago in Thailand.
The Filipino wunderkind bid farewell in her second WTA 1000 tournament this year with 4, 220 euros cash prize for making it as a wild card entry.
The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar also absorbed an opening round exit in the Miami Open last March, losing as a main draw wildcard to American Madison Brengle.