Alex Eala loses steam vs. Polish foe to bow out of Nottingham Open

Alex Eala staged a late comeback in Set 2, but ultimately fell short to surrender a 6-4, 6-3 loss against Magda Linette of Poland in the Round of 32 of Nottingham Open on Tuesday night (Manila time) in Great Britain. 

The 20-year-old Filipina tennis star thus bowed out of the grass tournament after gutting out a pair of victories in the qualifiers. 

Eala dropped the opening frame then found herself in a 5-3 hole in Set 2 after the sixth-seeded Linette erased an early deficit in Game 8 to cruise to the match point cushion over the Philippine bet. 

The world no. 77 in women's tennis then staged a rally in Game 9, winning back-to-back points to create a 30-0 cushion. Linette, though, retaliated and even took a 40-30 lead before Eala forced a deuce four times in an extended game. 

Linette then powered through to hack out the victory to boot out the Filipina. 

Eala previously saw action in two grass competitions, losing in Round of 32 of Birmingham Classic and quarterfinals of Ilkley Open. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News