MANILA — Alexandra Eala came within striking distance of a historic US Open fourth-round berth before American teenager Iva Jovic rallied from a 2-4 deficit in the deciding set to end the Filipina’s breakthrough campaign, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, on Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines) at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
The 17th-seeded Eala appeared poised to extend the best US Open singles run of her career after seizing a 4-2 advantage in the third set, but Jovic mounted a late comeback and secured the decisive break to survive the three-set thriller.
Eala also had to battle from behind in the opening set after falling into a 1-4 hole. She fought her way back to level the set before Jovic regained control and closed it out, 7-5.
Refusing to go quietly, Eala responded strongly in the second set, breaking away early and fending off Jovic’s attempts to rally en route to a 6-3 victory that forced a deciding set.
The Filipina carried that momentum into the third, building a 4-2 advantage and putting herself within sight of a place in the round of 16.
Jovic, however, turned the match around down the stretch, erasing Eala’s lead before securing the decisive break to complete the victory.
The win gave Jovic a 3-0 career record against Eala.
Jovic finished with 112 points won against Eala’s 102 and claimed 17 games to the Filipina’s 16.
Eala fired three aces but committed five double faults. She landed 90 percent of her first serves and won 50 percent of those points, while Jovic posted a 94-percent first-serve rate and won 54 percent of her first-serve points.
Both players had numerous break opportunities, with Jovic converting nine of 17 and Eala eight of 20.
Despite the heartbreaking defeat, Eala leaves New York with her best US Open singles performance, reaching the third round for the first time in her career.
She opened her campaign with straight-set victories over Mary Stoiana and Oleksandra Oliynykova before Jovic halted her historic run./PN
