Blanked in tiebreak, Eala gets boot in Suzhou Open

MANILA, Philippines, October 3 ------ Heartbreak for Alex Eala. The Filipina tennis ace clawed out of a late deficit in the third set but faltered in the tiebreak to yield to Viktorija Golubic, 2-6, 6-2, 6(0)-7, in the Suzhou WTA 125 quarterfinals in China Friday.

After Eala tied the third set at 3-all, the 32-year-old Swiss won the next two games to grab a 5-3 lead. Golubic, the World No. 70, even took the advantage in the sixth game, but the Rafa Nadal Academy graduate showcased her resiliency as she clawed out of the hole inch by inch. Eala took a 6-5 lead, but her Swiss foe forced the tiebreak with a victory in the 12th game. In the tiebreak, Eala seemingly ran out of steam as she faced a 0-4 deficit and did not recover.

The 20-year-old, ranked 58th in the world, had a strong start in the first set, dropping the first two games before sweeping the next six.

In the second set, though, Golubic waxed hot and won the first four games, before Eala finally bagged one. But Golubic wins two of the next three games to extend the match.

Before the Filipina tennister exited the tournament, she took down Katarzyna Kawa and Greet Minnen in the first two rounds.

Golubic will now take on German tennister Tatjana Maria in the semifinals, who punched her ticket to the semifinals via walkover.

Source: philstar.com