Filipina tennis phenom Alex Eala fell to a 0-6, 6-2, 3-6 setback to another debuting Grand Slam campaigner Emiliana Arango of Colombia on Sunday evening (Manila time)
Eala, who just turned 20, bowed out of contention in the first round of the French Open at the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris.
At the start of their 106-minutelong match, Eala fell behind from Arango fast game, and was scoreless when the first set was over.
After going up 3-2 in their rain-delayed second set, Eala wasted no time in getting three straight game points, and this brought the contest to a deciding third set.
This time, Arango got comfortable with her game on clay, and took a 2-0 edge.
The world no. 79 Arango then took control after Eala rallied, 2-3, she forced the Filipina to two errors to come within match point, 5-3, in the third.
Arango joined Victoria Mboko and top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the second round.
Mboko dispatched world No.45 Lulu Sun 6-1, 7-6(4) on Sunday to earn a second round spot, while Sabalenka beat Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 6-0.
Despite dropping out of the first round, Eala went home with 78,000 euros, or around P4.908-million and 10 points for her effort.
Eala dished out 20 winners to Arango’s 17 during the game. The Colombian 26 points off her first serves.
On the other hand, Eala had 25 point off 54 first serves.
