Alex Eala exits W100 tilt, bows to German foe

Alex Eala in W100 Grodzisk Mazowiecki.

Alex Eala in W100 Grodzisk Mazowiecki. –ALEX EALA FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala bowed out of the W100 Grodzisk Mazowiecki after falling to Germany’s Katharina Hobgarski, 4-6, 3-6, in the Round of 32 on Wednesday (Manila time) in Poland.

The 17-year-old Filipino star ended her first $100,000 tournament after two matches.

She tried to pull off a comeback in the first set turning a 1-3 disadvantage into a one-point deficit, 4-5. But the No. 14 seed Hobgarski ended Eala’s run and took full control of the second set to barge into the Round of 16.

The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar made her W100 debut with a rousing 6-4, 6-4 victory over Laura Svatikova of Slovakia.

Eala’s third crown in the pro ranks remained elusive as she last won a championship run in W25 Chiang Rai last April.

She made back-to-back semifinal appearances in the W60 Vitoria-Gasteiz and W25 El Espinar/Segovia last week in Spain.

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