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Tennis: Alex Eala bows to No. 3 seed Maria in Guangzhou Open

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Rosy Mina

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Alex Eala on Instagram" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/09/19/20230919-alex-eala-ig.jpg"/><figcaption>Filipino tennis star Alex Eala at the 2023 WTA Guangzhou Open in China. <em>Alex Eala on Instagram</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Filipino qualifier Alex Eala suffered her third defeat to 2022 Wimbledon semifinalist Tatjana Maria of Germany in the first round of the Guangzhou Open in China.</p><p>Eala, 18, was eliminated by the 36-year-old third seed, 3-6, 0-6, at Court 2 of the Guangzhou Nansha International Tennis Center on Tuesday.</p><p>Her other losses to the German also took place this year in the WTA main draw first round of the Thailand Open in Hua Hin, 2-6, 2-6, and Mutua Madrid Open in Spain, 1-6, 1-6.</p><p>With a new career-high ranking of World No. 191, Eala was determined to post her first win over the 48th-ranked Maria as both players firmly notched service holds to be at 3-3.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/17/23/tennis-eala-stuns-mandlik-to-qualify-for-guangzhou-open">Tennis: Alex Eala stuns Elizabeth Mandlik to qualify for Guangzhou Open</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/12/23/tennis-alex-eala-booted-out-of-japan-womens-open">Tennis: Alex Eala booted out of Japan Women’s Open</a></li></ul><p>After Maria held at 40-30 to advance to 4-3, she caught up to deuce and put the pressure on Eala to hold serve for the fourth time in a row.</p><p>Two more deuces later, the German veteran secured the crucial break for 5-3 after her teenage opponent let out a long forehand.</p><p>Despite conceding a set point due to a double fault, Maria served out the set at 40-30 to move closer to the second round, 6-3.</p><p>In the opening game of the second set, a smooth lob passing shot allowed Maria to break at deuce.</p><p>Eala sought to counter Maria’s slices with booming returns in her next service game, and she saved two break points to force a deuce.</p><p>Maria then hit a backhand slice crosscourt winner on her fourth break point opportunity in the third game to lead at 3-0.</p><p>The German with three WTA singles titles continued her run and broke for the fourth time in the match with a down-the-line winner to serve for the win at 5-0.</p><p>Eala claimed the first two points of the sixth game and managed to level at deuce after Maria committed a forehand error.</p><p>On her second match point, Maria triumphed in one hour and 19 minutes, 6-0, after Eala’s backhand return of serve was called out.</p><p>Eala, who was not able to earn a break point, had zero aces and four double faults.</p><p>Maria, meanwhile, served four aces and three double faults in her successful opener that arranged a second-round clash with World No. 129 Zhuoxuan Bai of China. </p><p>In the qualifying draw of the WTA 250 tournament, the 10th seed from the Philippines eked out victories over En-Shuo Liang of Chinese Taipei, 5-7, 6-1, 7-5, and No. 6 seed Elizabeth Mandlik of the United States, 7-5, 7-6(3).</p><p>It was the third time that Eala qualified for a WTA main draw spot in her career, following her first-round results in the Thailand Open in January and Japan Women’s Open in Osaka last week.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></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>

Alex Eala suffered her third defeat to 2022 Wimbledon semifinalist Tatjana Maria of Germany in the first round of the Guangzhou Open in China.