Alex Eala during the French Open 2024 qualifying round action. -ALEX EALA FACEBOOK
MANILA, Philippines — The Grand Slam women’s main draw remained elusive for Alex Eala as she came out short in the 2024 French Open on her 19th birthday.
Eala, who just turned 19 on Thursday, yielded to Julia Riera of Argentina, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4, in the final round of the qualifying draw in Paris.
The Filipino tennis ace couldn’t get the job done in the third set, where she erased a 2-4 deficit to force a tie at 4-4 but Riera got the better of her in the last two games to enter the main draw.
READ: Alex Eala nears French Open 2024 main draw
Eala, who is currently on her best Women’s Tennis Association ranking No. 160, pulled off an amazing comeback in the opening set, rising from a lethargic 0-4 start by dominating six consecutive games to draw first blood.
Riera opened the second frame with a 5-3 lead but Eala didn’t go down without a fight, leveling the set at 6-6. However, the Argentinian dominated the tiebreak to force a decider.
The Rafael Nadal Academy product fell short of making her pro Grand Slam main draw debut but she had two big wins in the tournament with a 6-1, 6-1 domination of China’s YeXin Ma on Monday and a come-from-behind 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Taylah Preston of Australia in the second round.
The World No. 93 Riera will compete in the main draw including defending champion and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland.