ALEX Eala’s campaign in the Australian Open came to an abrupt end yesterday when she absorbed a 5-7, 2-6 setback to Croatia’s Jana Fett in the first qualifying round of the women’s singles event in Melbourne, Australia.
Entering the qualifiers fresh from her semifinal finish in the Canberra International over the weekend and an all-time high of No. 138 in the Women’s Tennis Association world ratings, Eala, 19, couldn’t get her game going against the determined Croatian, ranked four rungs higher than her at No. 134.
The pretty Pinay southpaw couldn’t hold her early 2-0 lead in the first set, falling behind 2-5 following Fett’s service break in the seventh set before rallying to tie the opener at 5-all.
But the end finally came after Fett broke Eala again in the 11th game that went through five deuces before the former held serve in the next to take the first set.
The heartbreaking result apparently took its toll on the Filipina netter, who trailed 0-4 in the second set before being shown the exit after one hour and 59 minutes of action on court 15 at the National Tennis Center inside Melbourne Park.
