Alex Eala remains upbeat despite losing her shot at winning the W25 Aldershot women’s singles tournament title in England over the weekend.
The 18-year-old Eala expressed gratitude to her supporters for cheering for her despite falling short against Destanee Aiava of Australia in the final round, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6.
“Ended my nine-match winning streak today but I still got to bring home a finalist trophy from this W25 tournament. Enjoyed being in the finals two weeks in a row here in the UK with a championship in Roehampton and a runner-up in Aldershot,” Eala said.
“Thanks to those who came to watch my matches and to all those who cheered virtually.”
Eala had a hard climb to the top before getting to the final as she first defeated hometown bet Ranah Stoiber, 6-2, 6-4, in the Round of 32.
The graduate of the world-famous Rafael Nadal Academy then pulled off a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Australia’s Talia Gibson in the Round of 16 before knocking out Jenna DeFalco of the United States, 6-1, 6-2, in the quarterfinal.
Eala then survived a 1-6, 7-6, 6-3 win over another British netter, Katy Dunne, in the semifinal to book a championship match with Aiava.
The three-time Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist will return to Mallorca, Spain and prepare for her Asian tournaments in the build-up for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou from 23 September to 8 October.