MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala made a quick exit in the WTA 500 Bad Homburg Open as she fell to Elise Mertens anew, 3-6, 3-6, in the first round (round of 32) in Germany early Tuesday in Manila.
The Filipino netter held a 3-1 lead for a good start, but the Belgian won five straight games to take the first set and three more to begin the second frame, taking control for the rest of the way to beat Eala for the third time in as many matches.
World No. 30 Eala showed resistance in the eighth game of the second frame, saving three match points to extend the match but No. 26 Mertens blanked her the following game to finish the match in one hour and 24 minutes.
Eala shifts her focus in the doubles side as she teams up with Venus Williams, with the Filipino-American duo taking on the Aussie-American pair of Alexandra Osborne and Catherine Harrison on Wednesday.
