 |
| Maya Joint beat Alex Eala in an instant classic. WTA (file photo) |
MANILA--Alex Eala's Cinderella run in the Lexus Eastbourne Open was denied of a happily-ever-after ending after Maya Joint prevailed in an epic three-set final battle, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (12-10), on Saturday at the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club in Eastbourne, England.
In the showdown between potential next generation stars, the 19-year-old Joint showed mental toughness down the stretch as the 20-year-old Eala faltered when needed the most.
Joint, currently 51st in the world in the official rankings pending the eventual Wimbledon results, showed why she could be Australia's next tennis hope after racing to a 3-0 lead in Set 1, eventually holding Eala off despite her gallant stand.
The Filipina sensation, however, dominated Set 2, setting up what eventually became an exciting Set 3.
Eala surged ahead to a 2-0 lead in the decider, but Joint won the next four games to move to within two game wins from the title.
Eala, though, bounced back with three straight wins to move to within one win from the title before both tennisters went back and forth to eventually see themselves in the tiebreaker game.
Eala got off to a great start in Game 13, but Joint saved four championship points to keep herself in the match.
Later, Eala got a crucial break point to take a 10-9 lead with a chance to close it out with her own serve, but Joint won the next three points to steal the championship.
Despite the heartbreaker, Eala, who is projected to rise to number 56 after the Lexus Eastbourne Open, should have put the tennis world on notice ahead of her Wimbledon seniors debut next week.
Eala is due for an early collision with defending Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic in the first round.
Eala was due for a projected earlier clash with Krejcikova in the Eastbourne Open semifinals, but the latter decided to concede her quarterfinal bout against Varvara Gracheva due to a thigh injury.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
