Alex Eala, left, after finishing in second at the W40 Kyotec Open in Luxembourg.–KYOTEC OPEN PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Alex Eala ended her 2023 season with a runner-up finish in the International Tennis Federation W40 Kyotec Open on Sunday night (Manila time) in Petange, Luxembourg.
The Filipino tennis ace fell to Oceane Dodin of France, 1-6, 5-7, in the final.
Eala easily yielded the opening set but she refused to go down without a fight.
The 18-year-old Eala was determined to extend the match after taking a 5-3 lead in the second set but she failed to sustain her play allowing the 27-year-old Dodin to claim the victory.
A win would’ve pushed Eala’s ITF singles title count to five.
Still, it was quite a season for Eala, who captured a pair of ITF singles crowns and a couple of Asian Games bronze medals this year.
The Rafa Nadal Academy graduate also climbed to her highest WTA ranking yet this year when she moved to No. 189 last October 9. She is currently the world No. 190 as of Monday.