Alex Eala falls to Diana Shnaider, exits Pan Pacific Open - GMA Network
Alexandra 'Alex' Eala fell short against Diana Shnaider, 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4, in the Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals on Friday in Japan.
In the first set, Shnaider won the opening game before Eala claimed the next five to take control. Shnaider managed to win another game, but the Filipina ace regrouped and closed out the set.
The second set, however, proved to be a much tighter affair, with both players trading games to force a 6-6 tie.
In the tiebreak, Shnaider held a 5-3 lead before Eala won two consecutive points to level the score. However, a double fault from Eala allowed Shnaider to regain the lead. Shnaider then won the next point to take the set and force a deciding third set.
In the third set, Shnaider took an early 3-1 lead before Eala managed to win another game. Eala called for a medical timeout in the sixth game due to an issue with her left foot. Shnaider then extended her lead to 4-2 before Eala claimed another game. Shnaider then took the eighth game to inch closer, but Eala salvaged one more game. In the deciding game, Shnaider had an ace to claim the victory.
"Honestly, I feel like this match deserved to be a final. It was an insane level of tennis from both of us," Shnaider said in the post-match interview.
"I didn't believe that I would be able to pull that win off because she played insane. I was just trying to keep reminding myself to keep fighting for every point. As you see on the score, it was a very tight second set. So yeah, definitely just fighting for every point and that paid off."
Fighting for every point πͺ Diana Shnaider is through to the semifinals in Tokyo, defeating Eala in three sets! #torayppo https://t.co/2AzDQ98A4G
This marked Eala's second consecutive loss to Shnaider, who also defeated the Filipina in their previous meeting in Ningbo, 7-5, 6-4.
Shnaider will face Mia Pohankova in the semifinals. Pohankova advanced after defeating Naomi Osaka, 7-6(3), 6-3, in the quarterfinals.
Eala, meanwhile, is expected to return to action next week at the WTA 250 Hong Kong Open, which will mark her final WTA tournament appearance of the year.
