ALEX Eala failed to advance to the final round of the International Tennis Federation W100, bowing to Jessika Ponchet of France, 6-2, 4-6, 2-6, on Saturday in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain (Sunday, Manila time).
The 18-year-old Filipina started strong in the match but Ponchet, a familiar foe to Aala, managed to get on her rhythm mid-second set to force a decider.
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It was Eala's first time making it to the final four of the ITF W100 level.
She defeated Romania's Jacqueline Cristian and China's Tianmi Mi in the first two rounds, and Lucia Llorca in the quarterfinals.
Ponchet, 26, however, came out too strong for the Filipina. Eala, WTA no. 258, now has a record of 1-3 against the French.
They met each other thrice in the past year; W25 Palma del Rio in June, W60 Vitoria-Gasteiz semifinals July, with Ponchet winning both, and W80 Poitiers in October where Eala first defeated her.
Eala also recently graduated from the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallora, Spain.
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