Recent off her robust efficiency on the Italian Open, Alex Aira was unable to hold that momentum into the 2026 Strasbourg Open, struggling a crushing defeat to Oleksandra Olnikova 6-3, 5-7, 3-6 within the spherical of 32 on Monday night time (Philippine time).
The grueling match lasted practically three hours and was yet one more early ejection from the clay courtroom for the 20-year-old Filipino participant, who’s lower than per week away from returning to the French Open.
The primary set was a detailed battle on the baseline from the beginning, with each gamers holding serve for the primary six video games, leading to a 3-3 impasse.
The pivotal second got here within the seventh sport, when Olynikova pushed Eara to the restrict and even created a break level alternative, however the Filipino confirmed the composure to carry serve and escape in a protracted, hard-fought sport.
That tough maintain proved to be the spark Ila wanted.
The 20-year-old instantly raised her stage upon her return, securing her solely set break within the eighth sport earlier than stringing collectively three video games in a row to take the lead with cleaner shot-making and higher management throughout extra time rallies.
However Olnikova shortly turned the tide within the second set with extra aggressive returns and sharper courtroom protection.
Within the Ukraine qualifying spherical, he took a commanding 4-0 lead, beating Eara twice alongside the best way, and persistently put stress on the Filipino’s service video games.
However Ira bounced again and responded.
She received two breaks in three consecutive video games to shut the hole to 3-4 and claw her approach again into the set. The momentum continued to shift late within the set as Olnikova acquired a decisive counter-break, however Ila responded instantly with a 3rd body break, holding serve and leveling the rating at 5-5.
Nonetheless, Olynikova’s relentless return finally made the distinction.
The world No. 66 maintained his composure within the eleventh sport earlier than making the most of one other shaky service sport from Ila to interrupt and take the second set.
The decisive body adopted an identical sample of fluctuating momentum and fixed stress on the serve. Ila was the primary to get a break within the first sport, however Olnikova shortly responded with a break of her personal to maintain the set stage.
Halfway by means of the third set, the Filipino appeared to be beginning to regain management after one other well timed break gave her a 3-2 benefit. However that will be the final match Ila would win.
From there, Olnikova fully took over the match with assured baseline hitting and an excellent return sport, swinging the ultimate 4 video games to earn a come-from-behind victory.
One notable statistic highlighted the Ukrainian’s superiority in returns. Olnikova created an astonishing 23 break level alternatives all through the match, always placing stress on Eara’s serve and controlling lots of the exchanges from the baseline in further time.
