Alex Eala vs. Varvara Lepchenko match in Guadalajara 125 Open suspended due to rain

The Round of 16 match between Alex Eala and Varvara Lepchenko was temporarily suspended due to rain at the venue in Mexico early Thursday morning (Philippine time).

Eala held a slim lead, 6(3)-7, 7-6(3), 3-2, before play was halted due to inclement weather.

The match was already approaching its third hour, with tiebreaks deciding the first two sets.

In the opening set, Eala surged to an early 4-1 lead, but Lepchenko, ranked no. 122 in the world, fought back to close the gap to 4-3. Eala then took the eighth game for a 5-3 advantage, but the American took three straight games to go up 6-5. The Filipino ace forced a tiebreak, but Lepchenko ultimately prevailed to take the first set.

The second set was another tight contest. World no. 75 Eala held a 4-3 lead before the 39-year-old Lepchenko claimed the next two games to edge ahead. The 20-year-old Eala, however, tied the set at 5-all. Lepchenko then took the next game, but Eala responded to force another tiebreak, which she won to extend the match.

No exact time has been announced yet for the resumption of play.

The winner of this match will face 30-year-old Nicole Fossa Huergo of Italy in the quarterfinals.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News