Alex Ealaโs Italian Open campaign stopped in the third round after a 4-6, 3-6 loss to World No. 2 Elena Rybakina in Rome on May 10 (Manila time). On paper it was a massive gapโEala at No. 42, Rybakina at No. 2โand the match played out like it: Eala had moments, but Rybakinaโs firepower didnโt let up.
Eala actually struck first, taking the opening game, and she stayed in the fight in the first setโholding serve to keep it close at 4-5. But Rybakina stayed steady, closed the door, and took the set with a heavy dose of clean hittingโshe piled up 17 winners in that opening frame alone.
The second set started with Eala still pushing, grabbing a 2-1 lead, but Rybakina flipped the script fast with a run of games to create separation at 4-2. Eala managed to hold once more to stay within reach, yet Rybakinaโs control and pace proved too much to chase down. By the end, the Kazakh finished with 28 winners, a stat that basically explains the match.
This also means no repeat of that โbeat a World No. 2โ magic this timeโEala did it before (most famously against Iga Swiatek during her Miami Open breakthrough), but Rybakina didnโt give the same opening. Next up, Rybakina moves on to face Laura Siegemund (No. 46) or Karolina Pliskova (No. 130) in the Round of 16.
Image from Filippo Monteforte