Inexperience showed in Alex Eala’s first foray into the Italian Open in Rome.
Alex Eala had no answers against Ukranian hitter Marta Kostyuk in her debut match at the Italian Open, 0-6, 1-6, at the Grand Stand Arena on Wednesday (early Thursday morning, Manila time).
Eala, 19, couldn’t catch a break against the more experienced Kostyuk who needed just over an hour to eliminate the promising Filipino talent.
Set 1 lasted just 31 minutes as Kostyuk blanked Eala in a humbling loss since the 19-year-old’s pivotal run to the semifinals in the Miami Open, where she leaped into stardom after big wins over players like Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek.
But it was Kostyuk who brought the Filipina hitter crashing back down with a masterclass in Rome.
Fortunately for Eala, she avoided being swept completely when she broke the Ukranian’s serve in Game Six of Set 2, 1-5.
The win only delayed the inevitable, though, as Kostyuk marched on to win and broke Eala’s serve right back after.
Eala thus suffers a big setback right before she makes her long-awaited debut at the French Open later this month.
The 19-year-old had just risen to a new career-high ranking of World No. 70 in the WTA rankings released Monday.
[READ:
Alex Eala rises to world no. 70 in WTA rankings ahead of Italian Open]
Eala now shifts her focus on the doubles tournament where she will team up with Roland Garros doubles champ Coco Gauff.
This will be the first time Eala partners with the former World No. 2 in singles.
Gauff is also a one-time Grand Slam winner in singles after winning the US Open back in 2023.