Eala loses to New Zealander to miss out on Wimbledon

MANILA, Philippines -- Alex Eala’s Wimbledon dreams will have to wait after the Filipina tennis ace succumbed to New Zealand’s Lulu Sun, 7-6(3), 7-5, Thursday night (Manila time.)

On the cusp of a historic Wimbledon berth, Eala saw the opportunity slip through her fingertips as Sun held on.

The Asian Games bronze medalist was a game away from taking the first set, 5-2, as she showed her stuff to her 23-year-old rival.

Sun though clawed back and took the lead, 6-5, as Eala’s errors hounded her.

The Filipina was able to force the tiebreak in the first set, but Sun was just too much, taking a 6-1 lead that she did not lose.

Come the second set, Eala took the first two games.

The World No. 123 tennister, however, won the next four games to go up, 4-2.

Eala triumphed in the next two as they traded games.

After Sun dominated in the 11th game to go up 6-5, miscues proved to be the teenager’s downfall as she lost with a forehand error.

Had she won, Eala would have been the first Filipina to make it to a Grand Slam main draw.

Before losing to Sun, the world no. 162 tennister scored huge wins against France’s Jessika Ponchet and Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek to give her a chance to make it to Wimbledon.

Earlier this month, she also fell short in the Nottingham Open. She also failed to make it to the French Open’s main draw after losing in the final round of the qualifiers as well.