Tennis: Alex Eala wins opener at W25 Madrid

Rosy Mina

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Alex Eala. Photo from Alex Eala Facebook page" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/06/03/20230603-alex-eala-w25.jpg"/><figcaption>Alex Eala. <em>Photo from Alex Eala Facebook page</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA – Four days after she claimed the W25 Yecla title in Spain, Filipino third seed Alex Eala rallied to a 6-3, 7-6(8) victory over American Jessica Failla in the first round of the W25 Madrid on Thursday.</p><p>Eala, 18, is the WTA World No. 266 with three ITF women’s singles championships while the 25-year-old Failla is ranked 464th with two professional doubles crowns. </p><p>Their clash on the outdoor hard court of Ciudad Raqueta began with Eala taking a 2-0 lead after holding serve at 40-15 then breaking serve to love.</p><p>Failla broke back on her fifth opportunity due to a double fault, and the players traded breaks until the American held to level at 3-3.</p><p>Eala won the next three games, 6-3, but had to save three break points before sealing the first set with an ace, her second of four match aces.</p><p>Failla earned a 2-0 edge in the second set due to a double fault, and Eala brought the next game to deuce and broke back courtesy of a double fault as well.</p><p>Upon reaching 3-3, the players were unable to hold serve until the second-set tiebreak.</p><p>Eala broke in the seventh game after five deuces, while Failla equalized at 5-5 after saving two match points while the Filipino was serving at 5-4. </p><p>In the 12th game, Eala served for the win for the second time and gained three more match points, but Failla persisted and converted her second break point to force a tiebreak. </p><p>Eala narrowly led at 2-0 and 3-1 before Failla caught up and advanced to 4-3 and 6-5.</p><p>The tiebreak reached 6-6 after the American committed a double fault on her first set point.</p><p>This was followed by Failla’s sixth double fault, which yielded match point No. 6 to Eala. The Filipino, however, squandered it with her ninth double fault of the match.</p><p>After Failla earned her second set point at 8-7, Eala responded with two mini-breaks to zoom to 9-8.</p><p>The Rafa Nadal Academy player from the Philippines finally nailed the win, 7-6(8), on her seventh match point.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/04/23/tennis-alex-eala-claims-third-itf-crown-at-w25-yecla">Alex Eala claims third ITF crown at W25 Yecla in Spain</a></li></ul><p>Eala, the 2022 US Open Juniors singles champion, will see action in the second round against another American, 23-year-old qualifier Alana Smith.</p><p>The World No. 808 had a much easier triumph in the opening round over 16-year-old lucky loser Maria de la Paz Alberto of Spain, 6-0, 6-0.</p><p>The W25 Madrid, also called the ITF Villa de Madrid Copa Volvo, offers $25,000 in prize money.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong><br/> </div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7GYnm0ny1Vc?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Eala, the 2022 US Open Juniors singles champion, will see action in the second round against another American, 23-year-old qualifier Alana Smith.