Filipina tennis star Alex Eala bowed out of the Wuhan Open qualifying draw after a hard-fought three-set loss to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, 4-6, 6-3, 2-6 on Saturday.
Qualis No. 5 seed Eala faced world No. 92 Uchijima, who earlier this year reached a career-high ranking of No. 47.
The match was a battle of power and endurance, with both players engaging in long rallies and sharp-angled exchanges across nearly two hours of play.
Uchijima started strong, breaking Eala early to take a 2-0 lead and eventually claim the opening set, 6-4.
Eala, who had flown from Suzhou to Wuhan just hours after her quarterfinal exit on Friday, showed remarkable resilience in the second frame. She leveled the match at one set apiece, serving out the second set 6-3.
The deciding set turned into another test of stamina as Uchijima held firm, saving break points and building a 3-0 lead after several grueling games.
Eala fought back to 3-1 and later 5-2, but the Japanese player’s consistency on serve sealed the victory.
Despite the loss, Eala’s fighting form and determination stood out as she continues her Asian swing following strong showings in Suzhou and Jingshan.