Ponchet reasserts dominance over Eala as Pinay netter crashes out in Spain
Alex Eala falls short on her bid for a fourth championship after dropping a semis match to her familiar foe, French rival Jessika Ponchet. (Photo from Alex Eala's Facebook)
For the third time in four meetings, French netter Jessika Ponchet had Alex Eala's number.
Ponchet bounced back strong after losing the opening and won the next two over Eala and denied the Pinay netter a seat in the championship round of the W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz women's singles tournament at the Peña Vitoriana Tennis Club in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain Saturday.
The match ended at 6-2, 4-6, 2-6 and took one hour and 55 minutes before Ponchet reasserted her dominance against Eala.
Eala, 18, is a graduate of the world-famous Rafael Nadal Academy and is still in search of a fourth professional title while building up for the 19th Asian Games set 23 September to 8 October.