Alex Eala exits Ningbo Open after defeat by Diana Shnaider
Sixth seed Shnaider advances to a quarterfinal against Iva Jovic after beating the world No. 20 Filipina in straight sets.
Philippine tennis player Alex Eala lost 5-7, 4-6 to sixth seed Diana Shnaider in the Ningbo Open’s last-16 round on October 22, ending her bid for a second consecutive victory at the tournament.
The 21-year-old, ranked world No. 20, had beaten France’s Diane Parry without dropping a set in her opening match on October 19. Shnaider’s victory set up a quarterfinal meeting with American Iva Jovic.
Shnaider, the Russian world No. 13, said she was pleased with her performance and considered it an improvement on her previous outing. She described Eala as a powerful hitter who posed a difficult challenge.
Both players are left-handed. Shnaider said facing another left-hander required time to adjust to the ball’s spin and identify her opponent’s hitting zone and weaknesses, with play becoming easier as the match progressed.
Before Ningbo, Eala had exited the Wuhan Open in the round of 64 following a defeat by China’s Shi Han, ranked world No. 177.
