Alex Eala’s bid to make it to the main draw of the Miami Open for the second time came to an abrupt end after a 6-2, 5-7,1-6 loss to Emiliana Arango of Colombia in the second qualifying round of the tournament Tuesday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida.
Eala, 18, suffered cramps in the second set where she already had a 5-3 lead.
She was able to get back in the match but wasn’t able to sustain the momentum she got on her victory over former world No. 5 netter Sara Errani of Italy last Monday as the Filipino tennis ace fell short of making it to the main draw of the $1.1-million tournament.
Arango has yet to face her opponent in the main draw.
Eala hasn’t played in the main draw of the Miami Open since 2022 where she lost to Madison Brengle of the United States, 2-6, 1-6, in the first round.
The No. 176 netter has yet to win a title in 2024 in the women’s singles.
Her victory so far this year was in the doubles after her W50 Pune conquest in India last January with Darja Semenistaja of Latvia.
