By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Alexandra Eala faltered in the quarterfinal round of the Philippine Women’s Open after a 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Colombia’s Camila Osorio, 6-4, 6-4, at the Center Court of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Thursday night, January 29.

Osorio, the tournament’s fifth seed, leaned on steadier service games and stronger returns to control the match, winning 67 total points to Eala’s 60 and claiming 12 games against the Filipina’s eight.

The Colombian also finished with more receiving points won, 36 to 27, a key margin that reflected her success in pressuring Eala’s serve throughout the contest.

Both players registered one ace, but Osorio committed fewer double faults, four compared to Eala’s five.

Osorio also posted a slightly higher first serve percentage at 63 percent, while Eala landed 61 percent of her first serves.

The difference came in effectiveness: Osorio won 59 percent of points on her first serve, while Eala managed 51 percent.

Osorio capitalized on her chances, converting six of 12 break points, while Eala was perfect in her four opportunities but created fewer looks overall.

The Colombian also held an edge in service games won, six to four, and posted the longer runs of momentum, winning a maximum of three games in a row and seven straight points at one stretch.

Eala’s best runs were two consecutive games and five straight points.

At the net and baseline, the two were nearly even on second-serve points, each winning 50 percent.

However, Osorio’s consistency in extended rallies and her ability to win key points on return proved decisive.

With the loss, Eala’s campaign at the home tournament ends in the quarterfinals, while Osorio advances to the semifinals, continuing her bid for the Philippine Women’s Open crown./ASC, WDJ