Eala crashes out in Melbourne

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala crashed out of the 2023 Australian Open, running out of steam in a tough 6-4, 6-7, 3-6 defeat against Japanese Misaki Doi for an early boot in Round 1 of the qualifying draw at Melbourne Park.

Heeding the challenge of her first-ever women’s Grand Slam tourney, Eala took a rousing opening-set victory behind her crisp groundstrokes, and looked headed to Round 2 with ease following a big lead in the second set.

But the 17-year-old Filipina eventually succumbed to the pressure of the 31-year-old Japanese veteran as she fumbled a 5-2 upperhand en route to a narrow loss in the tiebreaker to pave the way for a decider.

Doi, WTA No. 172 and with almost 300 pro matches under her belt, just stamped her class from there on by keeping the WTA No. 215 Eala at bay for a thrilling comeback win in two hours and 37 minutes.

Save for a defeat in the first set, Doi was near perfect from then on by netting five aces with only one double fault. Eala had four faults, majority of which came in the latter part of the match that she controlled until the end of the second set.

Doi thus advanced in the second round of the qualifiers and will face WTA No. 118 Laura Pigossi of Brazil, who took care of business against Belgium’s Magali Kempen with an easier 6-2, 6-2 win.

Eala, for her part, kissed goodbye to her hopes of advancing to the main draw in her women’s Grand Slam debut.

A scholar of the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain, Eala is a winner of juniors doubles Slams (2020 Australian Open, 2021 French Open) and singles title (2022 US Open) on top of her two professional crowns in Spain and Thailand.