Eala yields to Shnaider a second time around

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala fell prey to Diana Shnaider of Russia for the second time around, surrendering a tough 6-2, 6-7 (5), 4-6 meltdown to miss out on a Final Four seat in the WTA500 Toray Pan Pacific Open at the Ariake Tennis Forest Park in Tokyo, Japan.

World No. 19 Eala wasted multiple chances to move at match point in the second frame and could not regain her groove in the decider as Shnaider pounced on the opportunity behind a 3-1 start to re-assert mastery after her gutsy sweep in the WTA500 Ningbo Open Round of 16 in China last week in China.

Shnaider, world No. 13, beat Eala in Ningbo, 7-5, 6-4, to deny her a quarterfinal spot.