ALEX Eala started like a house on fire but Iga Swiatek never panicked as the Polish star bucked a slow start to defeat the Filipino tennis ace in their second-round duel at Mutua Madrid Open in Spain early Friday (Philippine time), April 25.

The world No. 2 Swiatek nipped the world No. 72 Eala, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, to keep her title-retention bid alice.

The defending champion Swiatek also scored sweet revenge, getting back at Eala, who prevailed in their quarterfinal duel in the Miami Open last month, 6-2, 705.

Eala was superb early, jumping to a fast start to build a 5-2 lead en route to a dominant first-set win.

Eala suddenly lost steam as she struggled heavily in the second and third sets that enabled Swiatek to turn things around.

Swiatek, thus, advanced to the third round against a still-to-be-determined opponent.

Eala, on the other hand, suffered a quick exit as she failed to sustain her 6-3, 6-2 win over Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova in the first round.(CCM)

• Tags
• # Alex Eala
• #Iga Swiatek
• #Mutua Madrid Open
• #Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova