Filipina netter Alex Eala had a rude welcome to start the new year after falling short of reaching the main draw of the W60 Canberra International women's singles at the Canberra Tennis Centre in Canberra, Australia on Monday, 2 January.
Eala suffered a 6-3, 4-6, 4-6 defeat at the hands of Russian Oksana Selekhmeteva to exit in the second round of the qualifiers.
The Women's Tennis Association World no. 215 was booted out by her 2021 French Open junior doubles partner after two hours and 26 minutes of intense action.
It was Selekhmeteva's third straight head-to-head win over the 17-year-old Eala in as many outings in the ITF Women's World Tennis Tour.
The reigning US Open juniors singles champion had a great start in the opening set, cruising to a 4-1 lead in the frame.
However, Selekhmeteva broke Eala a couple of times in the second set to level the match. The Russian then raced to a 4-1 advantage in the decider after holding her serve.
Eala tried to rally, 4-5, but Selekhmeteva was quick to counter as she broke her rival's service twice to enter the main draw.
Eala advanced to the second round after defeating Marcela Zacarias of Mexico, 6-3, 7-6, last Sunday.
From Canberra, Eala will fly to Melbourne to make her debut in the Australian Open slated to run from 16 to 29 January.
