Eala succumbs to cramps, falls in Miami Open qualifying draw

MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala could not sustain her historic win against a former World No. 5 player as she fell short in the finals of the prestigious Miami Open qualifying draw at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida, United States.

The Filipina tennis sensation waxed hot early but faltered down the stretch after dealing with cramps against Emiliana Arango of Colombia, 6-2, 5-7, 1-6, for a foiled stint in the main competition of the elite WTA 1000 event.

Eala was on the verge of advancing with a 5-3 lead in the second set only to be bothered by cramps as Arango, WTA No. 123, capitalized to essay a comeback before eventually dominating the clincher.

Still, it was a commendable run for Eala.

Eala’s campaign featured an emphatic 6-3, 6-1 win over World No. 97 Sara Errani of Italy, who made it to the finals of the Roland Garros in 2012.

It’s the biggest win for Eala in her young career thus far, beating a Top 100-ranked player with nine singles and 29 doubles titles as she continues her ascend in the women’s professional circuit.

Eala, 18, is currently on a career-best ranking at No. 171 but she is tipped to climb further in the WTA after yet another tall stand against seasoned counterparts.