ALEX Eala started strong but faded in the stretch and absorbed a heartbreaking 6-4, 6-7 (1-7), 3-6 setback to Japanese Miyaki Doi in the qualifying round yesterday of the Australian Open at the Melbourne Park in Australia.
Ranked No. 172 in the Women’s Tennis Association world ratings, Doi broke Eala, ranked No. 214, in the third and ninth games of the rubber match to complete the come-from-behind win after 51 minutes of tense action on Court 8.
The Pinay phenom made her initial appearance in a Grand Slam tournament as a full-fledged pro three years after capturing the Australian Open juniors’ girls doubles crown with Indonesian Priska Madelyn Nugroho.
The pretty southpaw seemed poised to advance to the second qualifying round after breaking Doi in the first and third games of the first set to surge to a 3-0 lead before the Japanese finally broke the dry spell in the fourth to make it 1-3 after battling through four deuces.
Gaining a service break in the seventh game, the Japanese threatened at 3-4 and 4-5 before Eala derailed her rival’s rally in winning the 10th game at love.
Displaying veteran savvy and tenacity, Doi stormed back from a 2-4 deficit in the second set to win four straight games and seized the lead at 6-5 before Eala held serve in the 12th to force a tie-break.
Energized by her strong rally, the Japanese wore down her Filipina foe and opened a 4-1 lead en route to clinching the set and setting up a winner-take-all rubber match.
Going full throttle, Doi broke Eala in the third game of the third set that served as a springboard to her victory.
Eala committed four double faults to her opponent’s one and also had 38 unforced errors to Doi’s 25. — Bong Pedralvez
