FILIPINA tennis sensation Alex Eala, who has gone two notches up to another career high ranking, bowed out of contention on Tuesday in the qualifiers for the 2025 Australian Open.
The 19-year-old Eala, who rose from world no. 138 to a career best no. 136, fell to Croatia’s Jana Fett, 5-7, 2-6, in the first round.
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There, Eala got a higher paycheck of $9,995 after she lost to China’s Wei Sijia, 5-7, 2-6, in their showdown for a finals’ berth.
Against Fett, Eala bounced back from a 2-5 deficit in the opening set to force a 5-5 deadlock.
From there, Fett fought back and broke Eala’s serve to regain her edge, and take the set off three consecutive errors from the Filipina.