By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala crashed in the opening round of the National Bank Open after absorbing a tough 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 loss to former Grand Slam champion Marketa Vondrousova in Montreal, Canada on Sunday, July 27 (early Monday, Philippine time).
The 20-year-old Eala started strong, winning the opening set with an array of power shots.
The early setback failed to dampen the spirit of the hard-serving 2023 Wimbledon titlist as she started to press her attack – this time with more power – to disarm the Filipina ace.
Also it did not help that Vondrousova, 26, struggled with her serve early on as mirrored by five double faults.
But the left-handed Czech veteran roared back to life in the second frame, firing four aces on her way to breaking Eala’s serve twice, before adding three more aces in the deciding third to rule the match after two hours and six minutes.
A victory for Eala could have arranged her a second-round duel with a familiar rival in Marta Kostyuk, who earned an opening round bye.
Kostyuk and Eala faced each other last May at the Italian Open, where the world No. 26 Ukrainian won in straight sets.
The tournament is just one of the three Women’s Tennis Association (WTA1000) events lined up for Eala as she gears up for her upcoming main draw debut at the US Open next month.
She is next scheduled to compete in the Cincinnati Open in Ohio on Aug. 7 to 18 and the Monterrey Open in Mexico on Aug. 18 to 23.
