Not the ending Alex Eala had hoped for, especially after her impressive showing in the opening set.
In the end, Eala had to settle for an abbreviated triumph over former British No. 1 Katie Boulter — who was forced to retire after the third game of the second set — with the score at 6-4, 2-1 (ret), in the opening round of the WTA 250 Hong Kong Open on Tuesday.
Playing the last match of the day at the Center Court of Victoria Park Tennis Stadium, Eala and Boulter engaged in fierce exchanges of powerful groundstrokes in the first four games, which remained tied at 2-2.
The 20-year-old Eala appeared to gain a breakthrough when she broke serve in the sixth game to move ahead 4-2.
But the 29-year-old former world No. 23 demonstrated her veteran poise, breaking Eala in the seventh game to level the set at 4-4.
After Eala regained the lead at 5-4, Boulter had two opportunities on her serve to even the score at 5-5.
Eala, however, was determined not to let the set slip. She converted on her second break point after four deuces to claim the first set in the tenth game, which lasted 57 minutes.
Boulter started the second set strongly, breaking Eala for the second time in the match to take a 1-0 lead.
Eala quickly responded with a service break of her own to level the score.
After the Filipina youngster retook the lead at 2-1, Boulter called for her physio and, in tears, decided she could not continue.
It was a disappointing end to Boulter’s campaign in a tournament where she reached the finals last year.
For Eala, however, it was a confidence-boosting victory, making up for her first-round exit in the doubles competition on Monday, where she partnered with Chan Hao-Ching of Chinese Taipei.
Now ranked a career-high No. 51 in the world, Eala will have a day to recover before returning to action on Thursday.
She will face her friend, third-seeded 19-year-old Victoria Mboko of Canada.
Ranked No. 21, Mboko has overtaken Leylah Fernandez (No. 22) as the highest-ranked Canadian in the world.
