Alex Eala saw a halt to her seven-game streak as she succumbed to Janice Tjen in the SP Open quarterfinals in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Not a few thought that it would be an easy win for Alex Eala after she jumped to a 3-0 lead in the SP Open quarterfinals Saturday, Sept. 13 (Philippine time).
But her Indonesian foe, Janice Tjen, was determined to change the script.
When the dust settled, Eala surprisingly fell prey to Tjen 4-6, 1-6 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
[RELATED STORY: Alex Eala ends hot streak in Brazil, drops to Janice Tjen in SP Open quarters]
The 23-year-old Tjen thus punched the first ticket to the SP Open semis.
After her scintillating start, Eala was on her heels game after game.
Tjen’s forehand and slice backhands proved a headache for Eala, whose defense just could not keep up with the former’s well-placed shots.
It was as if Eala was also not herself for most of the duel, accounting for only four winners which paled in comparison with Tjen’s 23.
Even then, Tjen made sure she wouldn’t succumb to complacency against a player of Eala’s caliber.
“I think I was just focusing on every point. Especially playing against Eala, we all know she can come back anytime,” she said after the match.
But the comeback never came in the second set.
Determined to pull off the shocker, Tjen continued to pounce on Eala and eventually delivered the breadstick to sweep the match.
Used to putting pressure on higher-ranked foes, Eala found herself on the receiving end of the upset axe.
“It still feels unbelievable to me. All I can say is I’m pretty happy with how I played today,” Tjen said.
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.