Alex Eala in the WTA Guangzhou Open.–Photo from Alex Eala Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala was dominated by the United States’ Bernarda Pera, 0-6, 3-6, in the main draw of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 250 Guangzhou Open on Tuesday at Nansha International Tennis Center in China.
The 19-year-old Filipino got swept in the opening set before Pera, the world No. 79 netter, broke a 3-3 tie and won three straight games to advance to the round of 16.
Eala’s main draw in the WTA 250 Guangzhou only lasted for 61 minutes but she remained grateful for the experience.
READ: Alex Eala marches on to WTA Guangzhou Open main draw
“That’s a wrap on Guangzhou! Thankful for the process and excited to push for more,” wrote the WTA World No.147.
Eala worked her way to the main draw — her fifth appearance in a WTA tournament this year — after beating China’s Xinyu Gao, 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, in the first phase of the qualifier before barging into the round of 32 with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Elena Pridankina of Russia.
The Filipino prodigy recently missed the main draw of the Wuhan Open and Ningbo Open in the past two weeks.
The Rafael Nadal Academy graduate will continue to compete in China, seeing action in the WTA 250 Jiangxi Open next week.