TJ Manotoc

Kostyuk overpowers Eala in Italian Open first-round match

Article (news)

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

After a grueling 10-minute opening game with multiple deuce points, Marta Kostyuk broke Alex Eala’s serve and never looked back. The Ukrainian took early control with a 3-0 lead, breaking Eala twice in quick succession.Kostyuk’s dominance continued as she broke Eala for a third time to go up 5-0, then served out the first set with clinical efficiency to win 6-0. Eala, still struggling to find her rhythm, couldn’t contain Kostyuk’s aggressive and well-placed forehands that constantly changed direction and dictated the pace.The second set saw no change in momentum as Kostyuk won her eighth consecutive game to take a 2-0 lead, followed by yet another break—the fifth in a row—to go up 3-0. Eala finally managed to hold serve and put herself on the scoreboard at 1-4, drawing cheers from a supportive Filipino crowd in the Rome evening session.But it was too little, too late. Kostyuk held serve to lead 5-1, then broke Eala once more to close out the match, 6-0, 6-1, in just over an hour.Eala now exits the Italian Open singles draw but will look to rebound in the doubles competition, where she partners with world No. 3 Coco Gauff.

After a 10-minute opening game taking the first break, Marta Kostyuk took over the match vs. Filipina Alex Eala with a dominant win, 6-0, 6-1, in just over an hour in Rome.

After a 10-minute opening game taking the first break, Marta Kostyuk took over the match vs. Filipina Alex Eala with a dominant win, 6-0, 6-1, in just over an hour in Rome.