MANILA – Alexandra Eala’s campaign in the Bad Homburg Open women’s singles draw came to an early end after Belgium’s Elise Mertens scored a 6-3, 6-3 victory in their opening-round match on Tuesday (Philippine time).
The win sent Mertens into the Round of 16 and extended her unbeaten record against Eala on the WTA Tour to three matches, halting the Filipina’s bid to sustain the momentum from her recent breakthrough performances on grass.
Eala entered the tournament fresh from a semifinal appearance at the Berlin Open and a return to the WTA Top 30 rankings, but was unable to overcome the experienced Belgian veteran.
The Filipina appeared on course for a strong start after racing to a 3-1 lead in the opening set. Mertens, however, steadily regained control behind consistent baseline play and efficient serving, winning crucial games down the stretch to seize the set.
Mertens carried that momentum into the second set, putting together a dominant run that left Eala struggling to regain her rhythm as the Belgian closed out the match in straight sets.
The result marked the latest chapter in a rivalry that began in 2023 at the Jasmin Open in Tunisia, where Mertens also defeated Eala in straight sets. The Belgian likewise prevailed in their meeting at the Madrid Open earlier this year.
With the victory, Mertens advanced to the next round, where she will face four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
Despite the setback, Eala continues to be one of the rising players on the women’s circuit following a breakthrough grass-court season highlighted by her semifinal run in Berlin and her climb back into the WTA Top 30./PN
