Hungarian ends Eala's Oeiras Ladies Open run

Alex Eala's run in the Oeiras Ladies Open comes to a close as she lost to world No. 137 Panna Udvardy of Hungary, 6-7, 4-6, in the Round of 16 at the Centro Desportivo Nacional do Jamor in Oeiras, Portugal Thursday evening (Manila time).

The 19-year-old Eala, who entered the tournamen as the No. 1 seed, fought for one hour and 50 minutes before she suffered a painful exit in her first clay tournament of the year.

Eala, currently sitting in No. 72 in the Women's Tennis Association WTA) rankings, previousy defeated Anouk Koevermans of the Netherlands in the Round of 32, 6-3, 6-4, last Tuesday.

Last Wednesday saw her and Katy Volynets of the United States bow out of the women's doubles after a 3-6 4-6 loss to American duo of Carmen Corley and Christina Rosca in the Last 16.

Eala will now shift her focus on the Mutua Madrid Open which will be held from 22 April to 4 May at the La Caja Magica in Madrid.

This will be the second WTA 1000 tournament that Eala will join this year after the Miami Open last March where she made it as far as the semifinal before losing to current world No. 3 Jessica Pegula of the United States, 6-7, 7-5, 3-6.