Table of Contents
- Match Recap
- Eala’s Strong Start
- Second Set Collapse
- Recent Success and Momentum
- Doubles Campaign
- What’s Next for Eala
Match Recap
Alex Eala’s campaign at the Oeiras Ladies Open ended in the round of 16 following a hard-fought 6(4)-7, 4-6 loss to Hungary’s Panna Udvardy on Thursday (Manila time) in Portugal.
Eala’s Strong Start
The 19-year-old Filipina showed resilience early in the match, rallying from a 1-3 deficit in the first set to force a tiebreak. Eala briefly led 2-1 in the tiebreaker before Udvardy, ranked No. 137 in the world, surged ahead to claim the set.
Second Set Collapse
Eala seemed poised to force a deciding set after building a 4-1 lead in the second. However, Udvardy mounted a strong comeback, winning five consecutive games to close out the match and advance to the quarterfinals.
Recent Success and Momentum
Eala entered the Oeiras tournament riding a wave of momentum from her breakthrough semifinal run at the Miami Open, which marked her best finish in a WTA 1000 event and pushed her to a career-high ranking of World No. 73.
In her opening match in Portugal—her first since Miami—she comfortably defeated Anouk Koevermans of the Netherlands, 6-3, 6-4, in a match delayed by rain.
Doubles Campaign
Eala also competed in the doubles event alongside American Katie Volynets. However, their run ended early as they fell to the fourth-seeded American pair of Christina Rosca and Carmen Corley, 3-6, 4-6, in the round of 16.
Notably, Volynets was one of the players Eala defeated during her impressive Miami Open streak, where she also upset three Grand Slam champions.
What’s Next for Eala
With the clay court season underway, Eala is setting her sights on bigger goals. Next up is the WTA 1000 Madrid Open, kicking off on April 21, where she will look to build on her recent success and prepare for a strong showing in the French Open main draw.
