Alex Ealaโs Stuttgart Open debut ended in a tough opening-round loss after she fell to World No. 25 Leylah Fernandez, 6-1, 6-4, early Wednesday (Manila time). Eala looked out of rhythm early, giving Fernandez control of the match from the first set.
But the Filipina didnโt fold. Down 5-2 in the second, Eala dug in, clawed her way back to 4-5, and even threatened to break when Fernandez was briefly under pressure. Fernandez answered with a clean closeโstringing together key points, capped by an ace to match point, to shut the door.
It was the first singles meeting between the two lefties, and Fernandez admitted she expected a fightโsaying her coach warned her Eala wouldnโt go down quietly. The Canadianโalso a 2021 US Open runner-upโmoves on to face either Zeynep Sรถnmez or Jasmine Paolini next.
For Eala, itโs another early exit in a stretch where she hasnโt broken through past the middle rounds lately, and sheโll look to reset heading into the bigger clay stops, including the Madrid Open later this month.
Screengrab from Premier Sports 2