Eala squanders 5-1 second-set lead vs Ostapenko, exits Linz Open

MANILA, Philippines -- Alex Eala needed just one more game to extend her debut in the Linz Open.

Unfortunately, it was not meant to be.

Eala blew a 5-1 lead in the second set and bowed out of the WTA 500 tournament against Jelena Ostapenko, 4-6, 5-7 Wednesday  (Manila time) in Austria.

Eala set the tempo in the first set, going up 4-2.

But Ostapenko was able to climb out of that hole and win the next four games to grab the first set, 6-4.

In the second set, the pride of the Philippines jumped to a 4-0 lead as she tried to force a third set.

Ostapenko, though, broke Eala’s serve and put herself on the board, 1-4, before the World No. 46 Filipina moved to within a game of the third set, 5-1.

But the 28-year-old slowly and steadily chipped the lead away, and she was able to hold her serve in the 12th game for the win.

The Filipina thus exited her clay season opener in the Round of 16.

She earlier defeated hometown bet Julia Grabher, 6-4, 6-3, before falling to Ostapenko.

The 20-year-old has had Ostapenko’s number in their previous singles’ matches. She defeated the Latvian in the Miami Open last year, and also in the Lexus Eastbourne Open via walkover in the same year.

For her part, the 28-year-old World No. 23 tennister will take on Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the quarterfinals.

Ruse beat Dayana Yastremska, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, earlier in the day.

Eala, though, will have a few days’ rest before she returns to action. She will be playing in the Stuttgart Open main draw after Zheng Qinwen withdrew from the tournament due to injury.