ALEX Eala was greeted with a loss in her first tournament after a brief break, bowing to a former Czech champion in the opening round of the 2025 National Bank Open early Monday (Philippine time), July 28, in Montreal, Canada.

The 20-year-old Eala couldn’t sustain a strong start to endure a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 loss to Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion.

Seeing action for the first time since her opening-round exit in last month’s Wimbledon Championships, Eala roared to a solid start as she capitalized on Vondrousova erratic serve that saw her commit five double faults.

Vondrousova got into a good rhythm in the second frame, scoring four aces and breaking Eala’s serve twice en route to tying the match. The left-handed Vondrousova sustained the momentum in the third frame where she added three more aces on her way to winning the match that lasted two hours and six minutes.

Vondrousova will next play Ukranian Marta Kostyuk in the next round. Kostyuk and Eala faced each other last May at the Italian Open where the Filipina tennis ace lost in straight sets.

Eala will next see action in the Cincinnati Open in Ohio starting Aug. 7. She will then compete in the Monterrey Open Aug. 18 before making her main draw debut at the US Open on Aug. 28.(CCM)

• Tags
• #Alex Eala
• #Czech Champion
• #2025 National Bank Open
• #Montreal Canada
• #Marketa Vondrousova
• #Wimbledon Champion
• #Ukranian
• #Marta Kostyuk
• #Cincinnati Open
• #Ohio