Muchova ends Eala’s Miami Open campaign
MANILA, Philippines (First published at 12:10 a.m.) — Czech players continue to be Alex Eala's kryptonite.
Eala’s drought against tennisters from Czechia continues as she absorbed a 6-0, 6-2 beating at the hands of Karolina Muchova in the Round of 16 of the Miami Open Monday evening (Manila time).
Eala thus could not replicate her semifinal finish in last year’s tournament after a humbling defeat against the World No. 14 Muchova, who put on a masterclass in the matchup.
“Yeah, it felt pretty good. I mean, you get nervous here and there when it's going, I don't want to say easy, but when the score is in your favor, it's like you have to be cautious,” Muchova said in the post-match interview.
“So, a little bit nervous, but obviously, I'm super happy to be here in quarters. It's incredible.”
The Czech tennister set the tone right from the get-go, dominating in the service game and powering through with her returns to serve a bagel in the first set.
The dominance continued through the second set, as the higher-ranked 29-year-old went up 4-0.
The 20-year-old kept herself alive and prevented a double bagel after holding her serve in the fifth game, 4-1.
But Muchova was simply too strong to handle as she finished off the match in just a little over an hour.
Since her Miami Open run last year, Eala has absorbed losses against Czechian tennisters Linda Fruhvirtova (Birmingham Classic), Barbora Krejcikova (Wimbledon,) Marketa Vondrousova (National Bank Open), Tereza Valentova (Japan Women’s Open and Qatar Open) and Linda Noskova (Indian Wells.)
With this finish, she is expected to drop in the rankings as she was unable to defend her semifinal ranking points from last year's dream stint.
Still, it was a tournament to remember for the World No. 29 pride of the Philippines. She a bye in the first round before grinding out a three-setter against Laura Siegemund in the Round of 64.
Eala then swept Magda Linette in the third round, before bowing out to Muchova.
Eala will still bring home 120 ranking points and $105,720 (around P6.3 million) despite the fourth round exit.
She will kick off her clay season in the Upper Austria Ladies Linz Open in Austria from April 6-12.
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