Eala Exits Strasbourg After Three-Set Thriller Against Oliynykova

Alex Eala was eliminated in the first round of the 2026 Internationaux de Strasbourg following a hard-fought 6-3, 5-7, 3-6 loss to Ukrainian qualifier Oleksandra Oliynykova on Monday in France.

The nearly three-hour clash saw multiple momentum swings before Oliynykova ultimately prevailed in a grueling 2-hour and 54-minute contest.

World No. 38 Eala started strong, fending off heavy pressure from Oliynykova in the opening set. After holding serve through the first six games, she produced a critical seventh-game hold, saving five break points in an extended series of deuces. That pivotal stand allowed Eala to break her opponent’s serve immediately afterward and close out the first set, 6-3, in 57 minutes.

Oliynykova, 25, gradually found her rhythm in the second set with a combination of looping groundstrokes, slices, and timely drop shots that disrupted Eala’s timing. The Ukrainian surged to a 4-0 lead, but Eala battled back to level at 5-5. Oliynykova regained composure to win the final two games, forcing a decisive third set.

The final set became another physical contest. Eala briefly seized the lead at 3-2 after a fifth-game break, but Oliynykova responded immediately and dominated the remainder of the frame, winning the last four games to complete the comeback.

Oliynykova entered Strasbourg in strong form after a breakthrough performance at the Italian Open, where she reached the third round and defeated former world No. 20 Yulia Putintseva in qualifying.

Eala’s loss halted her momentum following an encouraging Rome campaign, where she reached the third round and challenged world No. 2 Elena Rybakina.

The Filipina star now turns her focus to the French Open, set to begin on May 25.