The match between Filipina tennis star Alex Eala and veteran American Varvara Lepchenko at the Guadalajara 125 Open was suspended due to rain early Thursday morning (Philippine time).
Eala held a slim lead, 6 (3)-7, 7-6 (3), 3-2, before the Round of 16 play was halted due to the bad weather.
Tiebreaks decided the first two sets, setting the stage for a close conclusion.
The opening set saw an impressive start from Eala, who surged to an early 4-1 lead. However, the world no. 122 Lepchenko, known for her resilience, mounted a fierce comeback to close the gap to 4-3.
Eala then managed to take the eighth game for a 5-3 advantage, but the American veteran fought back, claiming three consecutive games to go up 6-5.
The 20-year-old Filipina ace then forced a tiebreak, but Lepchenko ultimately prevailed to take the first set.
The second set was another tight contest, with both players trading blows.
The world no. 75 Eala held a 4-3 lead before the 39-year-old Lepchenko claimed the next two games to edge ahead. Eala, showing her composure, tied the set at 5-all.
Lepchenko, who has faced multiple anti-doping violations in her career but bounced back from them all, took the next game, but Eala responded once more to force another tiebreak, which she won decisively to extend the match and send it to a deciding third set.
No exact time has been announced yet for the resumption of play, with the winner moving on to the quarterfinals to face 30-year-old Nicole Fossa Huergo of Italy.
