Alex Eala started her Asian swing with a semifinals run in the Jingshan Open, dropping a three-setter to old nemesis Lulu Sun.
For the second tournament in a row, the stars simply did not align for Alex Eala.
Despite a blistering start, the Filipina tennis ace faltered in the final two sets and absorbed a 6-3, 4-6, 2-6 semifinals loss to Lulu Sun, ending her Jingshan Open run on Saturday, Sept. 27.
Entering the match without dropping a set, Eala took the opening salvo before her Kiwi counterpart regrouped in the next two sets to take the match.
With the momentum on her side, Sun cruised in the third and completed the comeback in a two-hour marathon.
She will next face local bet Ma YeXin for the championship on Sunday, Sept. 28 (PH time).
As for Eala, this marks the end of her first tournament to the Asian swing.
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Eala now shifts her attention to the Suzhou WTA 125 Open, where she is seeded fourth and will face Katarzyna Kawa of Poland. That match is scheduled for Monday, September 29.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.