Eala misses Wimby spot

MANILA, Philippines — Another chance, another heartbreak.

For the second straight shot at history, Alex Eala fumbled on a tough 6(3)-7, 5-7 defeat against New Zealand’s Lulu Sun in the finals of the 2024 Wimbledon Open qualifying draw Thursday at the All England Club in London.

Eala faltered in the tiebreaker of the first set then relinquished a huge 5-2 lead in the second in a foiled bid at becoming the first Filipina to ever qualify in a Grand Slam main draw.

The 19-year-old bet had her golden chance in the French Open last month but bowed to Julia Riera of Argentina, 6-4, 6(3)-7, 4-6, in the finals as well.

Eala, a former world junior No. 2, previously won the US Open girls singles and captured two doubles titles in the Australian Open and French Open juniors.

But not in the women’s circuit, at least for now.