By MARK REY MONTEJO
Alex Eala found Czech Tereza Valentova a hard nut to crack and suffered a 1-6, 2-6 loss in the opening round of the WTA 250 Kinoshita Group Japan Open in Osaka Tuesday, Oct. 14.
Unseeded in the competition where hometown bet Naomi Osaka is the No. 1 seed, Eala, 20, did try her best but the 18-year-old Valentoza was ready for her, producing an array of jaw-dropping shots to prevail.
It was the second time that Eala absorbed a quick departure after her recent setback to Japanese Moyuka Uchijima, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, in the first-round qualifiers of the WTA1000 Wuhan Open in China last Oct. 4.
The country’s top Filipina netter came out inspired as she tried to conjure her magic once again, but it was swiftly countered by Valentova, who cruised into a 5-1 lead in the opening frame.
After enduring a beatdown in the first set, the WTA No. 54 went off with hopes of shifting the momentum. However, she failed again.
Eala managed to cut the deficit to 2-5 but still her efforts weren’t enough as the Czech netter continued to dominate her.
The Filipina is currently still in hunt for another WTA crown after nailing a historic first in WTA 125 Guadalajara Open in Mexico last month.
She is also expected to banner the Philippine team in the upcoming 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December.
With her win, Valentova, world’s No. 78, faces either Belgian Elise Mertens or Spaniard Cristina Bucsa in Round of 16.
