No dream run repeat for Alex Eala after Sweet 16 exit in Miami Open

Alex Eala came two wins short of matching her semifinal run last year in Miami. Richard Esguerra (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--There will be no repeat of an outstanding run in the Miami Open that catapulted Alex Eala to superstardom as she fell prey to world number 14 Karolina Muchova, 0-6, 2-6, in their fourth-round encounter.

Just as the clock struck midnight on Tuesday in the Philippines, Eala's hopes for another Cinderella run at South Beach lost their needed magic as Muchova added another puzzle to her longstanding struggles against Czech opponents in the pro ranks.

Although failing to convert an ace all match long, Muchova simply had more power and accuracy to combat Eala, converting all five of her break point attempts while making good on her services as well to complete a Set 1 shutout and extend it to a 4-0 lead in Set 2.

Eala eventually averted a double bagel as she won Game 5 in Set 2, but both players just exchanged service game wins in the end.

Muchova seemingly quickly resolved Eala's service game while also making sure the latter would find it hard to receive the former's serves, outscoring her in receiving points, 24-8, and in total points, 52-26.

With only 120 points earned in this year's Miami Open, a small fraction of the points she needed to defend to stay inside the Top 30, following the Sweet 16 exit, Eala, currently ranked number 29 in the world, is projected to have a major decline in next week's WTA rankings.