Filipino tennis star Alex Eala’s campaign in the W100 Bengaluru ended at the hands of Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic, 4-6, 4-6, in the Round of Thursday in India.
It was a shocking exit as the Women’s Tennis Association No. 136-ranked Eala got upset by the No. 231-ranked Slovenian.
A first title in 2025 remained elusive for Eala after bowing out of the semifinal of the Workday Canberra International last 3 January.
Eala hurdled Arianne Hartono in the opening round after stamping her class over the Dutch, 6-2, 6-1, last Wednesday.
The 19-year-old netter proved too much for Hartono in their second straight meeting this year.
Eala crushed Hartono 6-3, 6-3 win in the second round of the Workday Canberra International last 1 January. The Filipina reached as far as the semifinals before being shown the exit door.
The three-time Junior Grand Slam champion first defeated the No 163-ranked Hartono in 2023 where she delivered a 7-6, 2-6, 6-1 win in the semifinal of the W25 Roehampton in England for a 3-0 head-to-head record.
The No.231-ranked Jakupovic defeated Elena Pridankina of Russia, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, in the Round of 32 to set up a date with Eala.
Eala, a Rafael Nadal Academy, will set her sights on the Singapore Tennis Open firing off on Monday.