Alex Eala falls to Hungarian foe, ends Oeiras Open run

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Top seed Alex Eala gets the boot in her first clay court tournament of the year as she exits the second round of the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal after a straight-sets loss to Hungary's Panna Udvardy

MANILA, Philippines – Two rounds in Portugal and Alex Eala appears to still be trying to get her clay court legs under her.

The top-seeded Filipina endured a slow start and failed to convert on crucial points as she was eliminated in the second round of the 2025 Oeiras Ladies Open by world No. 137 Panna Udvardy of Hungary, 6-7 (4-7), 4-6, on Thursday, April 17. 

The 19-year-old Eala took a two-week break after her historic run in the WTA 1000 Miami Open and only began her clay court season this week when she came from behind to win her singles opening round match.

Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Udvardy has already played five clay court tournaments since February, with her best result being a semifinal finish in the WTA 125 La Bisbal D’ Emporda Challenger in Spain on April 5.

The difference in clay court form was evident early as Eala played catchup throughout the first set and went on to lose the tiebreak.

Eala seemed on her way to extending the match to a decider when she got off to a 2-0 lead in the second set. She had an opportunity to go up 3-0 and sink Udvardy in a deeper hole, leading 40-0 on her serve. The Hungarian, however, hung tough and got herself back in the set by breaking Eala to steal the third game.

The Rafa Nadal Academy prodigy answered back with her own service break, then held serve in the fifth game to build what looked to be an insurmountable 4-1 advantage.

But Udvardy relied on her powerful serves that resulted in 6 total aces to shut out Eala the rest of the set, with the former world No. 76 nailing the next five games to complete the sweep and give the Filipina the boot.

It was twice the heartbreak for Eala as she and American partner were booted out in the opening round of the doubles competition on Wednesday, April 16, by fourth seeds Carmen Corley and Christina Rosca of the United States, 6-3, 6-4. 

Eala and her team will have a few more days to fast-track her adjustment to the surface before she plunges into action anew in the WTA 1000 Mutua Madrid Open in Spain, which is set from April 22 to May 4. – Rappler.com