Filipino tennis star Alex Eala. –RAFA NADAL TWITTER
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala bowed out in the opening round of the W60 Chiasso with a 0-6, 2-6 loss to Alexandra Cadantu-Ignatik of Romania on Wednesday at Tennis Club Chiasso in Switzerland.
The 17-year-old Filipino got dominated by Cadantu-Ignatik right from the get-go with a 0-4 deficit. Eala averted a 0-30 start in Game 5 of the first set as she caught fire for a 40-30 lead.
But the Romanian veteran was too strong forcing a deuce and broke Eala’s serve to stretch her advantage to 5-0 and never looked back to take the opening set.
Cadantu-Ignatik, currently 215th in the world, sustained her momentum in the second set to advance to the next round against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the Round of 16.
The Romanian’s career-best ranking in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) was at No. 59 back in 2014 and she has won 11 International Tennis Federation titles.
Alex Eala in a W60 Chiasso doubles match. –ALEX EALA FACEBOOK
Last Tuesday, Eala also suffered an early exit in the doubles as she and partner Barbora Palicova of the Czech Republic fell to No.4 seed Beatrice Gumulya and Anna Siskova, 3-6, 6-4, 11-13
The Filipino-Czech tandem was able to bounce back from a first-set loss and saved match points in the third to inch closer to completing a come-from-behind win with an 11-10 advantage.
However, Siskova and Gumulya displayed grace under pressure, scoring three straight points to advance to the next round.
The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar, who is currently WTA’s World 219th, will see action in the Bellinzona Ladies Open next week.