ALEX Eala lost her grip while trying to force Frenchwoman Oceane Dodin to a deciding third set late Sunday night (Sunday afternoon in Europe), dropping a 1-6, 5-7 decision in the finals of the W40 Kyotec Open in Petange, Luxembourg.
After being outplayed in the opening set, Eala, seeded ninth, valiantly dug herself out of a 0-3 hole to take a 5-3 edge in the second set over her third-seeded rival in the competition organized by the International Tennis Federation.
But Odin, ranked No. 101 to Eala’s No. 204 in the Women’s Tennis Association world ratings, asserted her lofty billing, holding serve in the next then broke her pretty Pinay rival in the 10th game to tie the count at 5-all.
Finding her groove once more, the French netter won the pivotal 11th game at deuce with a vicious backhand down-the-line winner.
With the match on the line in the 12th game, Eala gamely fought back from a 15-40 deficit, saving two break points to level at 40-all, before finally succumbing after one hour and 30 minutes of struggle on center court with a netted weak forehand.
Odine scored 10 aces while the Filipina southpaw committed six double faults compared to her opponent’s four.
