The Pinay star Alex Eala found her maiden Linz Open run coming to a halt as she fell to Jeļena Ostapenko via a 4–6, 5–7 sweep in the round of 16 at the Design Center Linz in Austria on April 8.
Eala led as much as 5–1 in the sixth game of the second set after firing a flurry of forehand drives and baseline strikes which Ostapenko fell flat on receivers.
However, the Latvian ace pulled off a 5–0 run as she capitalized on the Filipina’s out-of-bound returns while also slotting successive right-handed hits.
Ostapenko then nailed the turnaround in the 11th game, uncorking a cross-court attack which the Pinay could not counter to seal her first win in their three meetings.
In a post-game interview, Ostapenko said she viewed Eala as a tough first-round opponent, noting her strong form this season and her previous wins over her at Miami and Eastbourne.
"When I saw the draw, I thought it was a tough first round for me. She's a great player, and she's having a good year," remarked Ostapenko of Eala, following earlier defeats to her at Miami and Eastbourne.
She added that her recent wins over previously unbeaten opponents showed she was progressing in the right direction.
"I've been beating players I haven't beaten before, so it means I'm on the right track," stated Ostapenko.
On the other hand, the Pinay previously trounced hometown standout Julia Grabher in the round of 32 as she staged a straight-set 6–4, 6–3 win.
Now, the World No. 46 Eala aims to test her mettle in the WTA 500 Stuttgart Open after notching a main-draw spot.
Written by Vince Garcia, Insight PH
Vince Garcia, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
