Alex Eala falters vs Oliynykova in grueling Strasbourg Open R32 clash

Alexandra "Alex" Eala absorbed another early clay-court setback after yielding to Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, in the Round of 32 of the Strasbourg Open on Monday night (Manila time) in France.

The Filipina tennis star has bowed out early in another of her clay-court tournaments this year, with this possibly being her final tune-up before her second appearance at the French Open next week.

Comeback complete ????

Oleksandra Oliynykova pushes past Eala for a Round of 16 spot in Strasbourg!#IS26 pic.twitter.com/1ew69T8V4D

— wta (@WTA) May 18, 2026

READ MORE | LIVE UPDATES: Alex Eala vs Oleksandra Oliynykova at the Strasbourg Open Round of 32

Tied at 3-3 in the opening frame, Eala unleashed a strong closing run by taking the next three games to win 6-3, highlighted by a grueling seventh game where the Filipina ace fended off five break points from Oliynykova.

But Oliynykova roared back in the second set, storming out to a 4-0 lead.

Eala, however, mounted a mighty fightback by claiming the next three games, capitalizing on a double fault and an attack error from Oliynykova in the seventh game to trim the deficit to 4-3.

Eala forced a 5-all deadlock with two consecutive backhand winners in the 10th game, but the Ukrainian bet avoided the meltdown by capturing the last two games to level the match at one set apiece.

Eala displayed similar grit in Set 3, overcoming eight deuces in the fourth game to tie things at 2-2 before Oliynykova captured two of the next three games to take a crucial 4-3 edge.

Oliynykova took control of the succeeding games as Eala faltered with two costly forehand errors that ultimately sealed the Filipina’s defeat.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News