EGGED on by passionate Filipino fans, Alex Eala put up a tough stand but simply failed to overcome a lower-ranked but multi-titled opponent.

The 20-year-old Eala bowed out from the first-ever WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open after losing to Colombia's Camila Osorio, 4-6, 4-6, in their quarterfinal round duel on Thursday night, Jan. 29, at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila.

The 24-year-old Osorio, currently ranked No. 84 in the world but managed to go as high as No. 33 at one point, quelled Eala’s repeated rallies to frustrate the hometown bet.

Thus, Osorio, winner of three singles titles on the WTA Tour, arranged a semifinal duel with third seed Solana Sierra. The Argentinian Sierra sealed her own semis ticket by pulling off a 6-3, 6-4 quarterfinal victory against Thailand's Lanlana Taraudee.

She may have failed to complete a deep run, but Eala, ranked No. 49 in the world, was still happy to compete in front of the Filipinos.

“Sayang, hindi pumasa ngayon sa level pero ang importante nandito ako sa Manila, sa Pilipinas, nandito ang WTA," said Eala in a televised interview.

Eala is set to leave this weekend to compete in the tough WTA500 in Abu Dhabi.(CCM)

• Tags
• #Alex Eala
• #Philippine Women’s Open
• #WTA 125
• #quarterfinals
• #Camila Osorio
• #Colombia
• #Rizal Memorial Tennis Center
• #Manila
• #Jan. 29
• #loss
• #4-6 4-6
• #Filipino fans
• #world ranking No. 49
• #world ranking No. 84
• #former No. 33
• #WTA singles titles
• #Solana Sierra,