Alex Eala suffered another first-round exit after succumbing to USA’s Claire Liu, 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, in the Guangzhou Open on Tuesday.
Eala blew a 3-1 lead in the third as Liu won five of the last six games, mounting a 40-0 lead in the 10th and final game.
The Filipino tennis ace cut it down to 40-30, only for Liu to end the match to advance to the round of 16.
The 20-year-old netter dominated the first set, but also squandered a 4-2 advantage in the second, as her World No. 305 opponent won four straight games to force a decider.
It was Eala’s second straight exit in the round of 32 after she was upset by Czech qualifier Tereza Valentova, 6-1, 6-2, in the Japan Open last week.
Eala will compete in the Guangzhou Open doubles with Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok against Tang Qianhui of China and Emily Appleton of the United Kingdom on Wednesday afternoon.