Eala squanders dominant first set, falters vs Parks for early Australian Open exit

MANILA, Philippines — One set does not make a match, and Alex Eala learned that lesson the hardest way possible.

Despite an explosive start in her Australian Open debut, Eala could not sustain the momentum as she fell to the lower-ranked Alycia Parks, 6-0, 3-6, 2-6, Monday at Melbourne Park.

A victory in the first game after eight break points set the tone for the rest of the first set for the World No. 49 tennister, as she completed the bagel against Parks in 34 minutes.

But Parks regained her form and had a strong start in the second set, going up 3-0.

The Filipina, however, won the next three games to tie things up, but the 25-year-old World No. 99 tennis player recovered in time.

Her cross-court return gave her the upper hand, 4-3, and it was enough to boost her to a 6-3 victory in the second set.

Parks’ momentum continued on in the deciding set, going up 2-0, but the Filipina snapped the run with a win in the third game.

The American, though, was just too strong and too good, grabbing the win in the eighth game as she held her serve.

Parks punched in 12 service aces against Eala’s one.

But the American had 47 unforced errors to the Filipina’s 20.

Eala won 42 receiving points to her opponent’s 29.

Parks will thus take on either Karolina Muchova or Jaqueline Cristian in the second round.

While Eala bowed out of the singles’ action, she will still compete in the doubles’ play. She is partnered with Ingrid Martins, and the duo will take on Magda Linette and Shuko Aoyama on Tuesday morning (Manila time).

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