By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala’s bid to reach the main draw of the Wuhan Open came to an early end after a first-round qualifying loss on Saturday, Oct. 4, in China.
The 20-year-old Eala failed to sustain her momentum in the second set and fell to lower-ranked Moyuka Uchijima, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, in this Women’s Tennis Association (WTA 1000) event.
Eala, ranked No. 58 in the world — 34 spots higher than her Japanese opponent — showed grit in the second set, breaking away from a 3-all deadlock by winning the next three games to force a decider.
However, Uchijima quickly regained control in the third set, racing to a 3-0 lead and never looking back to seal the match.
A victory could have set Eala up for a final qualifying match against the winner of the clash between Cristina Bucsa and Wang Xiyu, with a spot in the main draw at stake.
The Wuhan Open is the final WTA 1000 tournament of the season, featuring a star-studded field led by the world’s top players: Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, and Mirra Andreeva.
