MANILA — Pinay tennis sensation Alex Eala didn’t get the breaks this time as she failed to give a good showing at the 2022 W100 Grodzisk Mazowiecki tournament in Poland, dropping as result in the World Tennis Association (WTA) singles ranking from a career-high No. 280 to 291.

The 17-year-old scholar at the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy suffered a heartbreaking 4-6, 3-6 loss to Germany’s Katharina Hobgarski, who is ranked No. 240 in the WTA, and made her exit early particularly in the Round of 32 of the tourney.

This was Eala’s very first W100 event in Poland.

Polish power player Iga Swiatek remained at No. 1 while Anett Konaveit of Estonia, Paula Badosa, Maria Sakkari of Greece, and Ons Jabeur of Turkey placed second, third, fourth, and fifth spots.

Cushioning Eala’s loss was Filipino-Canadian Leylah Fernandez who climbed to No. 13. Though saddened by the defeat, sitting at No. 291 is still a big accomplishment for the Pinay tennister even as she peaked at No. 280 last August 1 following her semifinal finish in the W25 El Espinar/Segovia in Spain.