Alex Eala exits Hong Kong Open as Victoria Mboko completes comeback

Alexandra “Alex” Eala fell short as Victoria Mboko completed a come-from-behind victory, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, on Thursday in the Hong Kong Open Round of 16.

After Eala’s first-set win, Mboko rallied as they went neck and neck to 2-all before the 19-year-old Canadian pulled ahead to force a decider.

World No. 51 Eala was leading 4-1 in the third set before Mboko powered through, winning the next five games to seal the victory and wrap up the match, which lasted two hours and 27 minutes.

Prior to this, 19-year old Filipina tennis ace advanced to the Round of 16 as Katie Boulter retired due to injury.

In the doubles draw, Eala and partner Hao-Ching Chan fell short against Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia and Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the first round last Monday.

This marks Eala’s final WTA tournament of the year in a historic season that saw her break into the world’s top 100, defeat Grand Slam champions, make history as the first Filipino to win a Grand Slam main-draw match at the US Open, and capture her first WTA 125 title in Guadalajara shortly after.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News