TOP seeded Alexandra Eala was done in 106 minutes after she rallied in the first set to bring down qualifier and Fil-Australian foe Lizette Cabrera, 7-6 (4), 6-3, at the grass courts of the Ilkley Open in Great Britain on Tuesday evening.
The 20-year-old Eala scored 35 points off 48 first serves in easing out Cabrera in the first round.
Eala, ranked no. 77 in the world, is in the round of 16, where she will have Switzerland’s Valentina Ryser, ranked No. 230, as her next opponent.
The 5’9” Eala fought back from 1-3 down in the first set.
Once again playing in faster grass court surfaces, Eala managed to even the count and force two more ties, before prompting a tiebreak in the 13th game.
Cabrera fought to a 3-all deadlock, before a double fault at 4-all allowed Eala to take the next three-points and the set, when she slammed a forehand down the line.
In the second set, Eala’s powerful groundstrokes led to a 3-2 lead, breaking Cabrera to take a decisive 4-2 edge.
Eala’s aggressiveness moved her ahead, 5-2, and into her first grass-court win of the season.
The Filipina tennis star’s participation in the tournament is part of her preparations for Wimbledon.
