Rain suspends Alex Eala–Varvara Lepchenko clash in Guadalajara

 Alex Eala’s round-of-16 match at the WTA 125 Guadalajara was halted by rain on Thursday with the score finely balanced against veteran Varvara Lepchenko.

After two sets lasting nearly three hours, play was suspended in the third with Eala leading 3-2 and Lepchenko set to serve in the sixth game. The official resumption schedule has yet to be announced.

Eala, 20, entered the tournament ranked No. 75 in the WTA rankings. The Filipina has been riding momentum from her historic first Grand Slam main-draw victory at the US Open last week, where she upset world No. 15 Clara Tauson and followed with an opening win against Arianne Hartono in the first round. . 

In Guadalajara, she dropped the opening set after losing a tiebreaker, 6-7(7), but bounced back to level the match by taking the second set in another breaker, 7-6(3).

Lepchenko, ranked No. 122, is one of the most experienced players in the field. The 38-year-old American, originally from Uzbekistan, reached a career-high ranking of world No. 19 in 2012 and has played in over 50 Grand Slam events. She recovered from an early 0-3 deficit to steal the first set before Eala forced a decider.

Both players relied heavily on baseline consistency, with long rallies dominating the contest. Eala used her heavy topspin forehand to dictate points, while Lepchenko countered with flat groundstrokes and veteran composure.

 Neither surrendered serve in the third set before rain interrupted the flow of the match.

The winner will secure a place in the quarterfinals, where a potential matchup against one of the tournament’s seeded players awaits.

 A victory would give Eala her second career WTA 125 quarterfinal appearance, while Lepchenko aims to extend her run as she pushes for a return to the world’s Top 100.

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