Sports
Spoelstra: No need to penalize Ball any further
Erik Spoelstra supports no further penalties for LaMelo Ball after flagrant foul.
ESPN News1 min read
Sports
What Fernandez’s coach told her before closing out Eala match
TL;DR
Leylah Fernandez defeated Alexandra Eala 6-1, 6-4 at the Stuttgart Open, ending Eala's tournament run. Despite a strong start, Fernandez faced a tense finish but ultimately secured the win.
Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP via Getty Images
Alexandra Eala’s run at the Stuttgart Open ended before it ever really got started.
On Tuesday, Leylah Fernandez eased past the Filipina 6-1, 6-4 at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, Germany.
Despite the early advantage, Fernandez had to overcome a shaky finish. Leading 5-2 in the second set, she let Eala pull back to 5-4 and then slipped behind 0-30 on her own serve.
But Fernandez regrouped quickly, taking the next four points in a row to seal the win.
Afterward, she shared what her coach had said to her during that tense moment late in the match.
Fernandez reveals what her coach told her ahead of Eala clash
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
“Honestly, it’s what my coach told me at 0-30, 5-4,” Fernandez said during her post-match interview, as broadcast by Sky Sports.
“He said, ‘she’s not going to go down easy as you can see. She’s going to fight. You’re going to have to take the match.’
“So I was glad that I trusted him and I trusted the training that we’d done. So, happy to get the win here.”
She landed three aces during the match – one of them coming at 30-30 in the final game – and won over 70% of her first-serve points.
The former US Open finalist also converted four of eight break points and won nearly two-thirds of points on Eala’s second serve.
Her performance dipped slightly towards the end, but she stayed positive throughout thanks in part to support from the crowd.
Eala will now turn her attention to next week’s Madrid Open where she’ll be hoping for a better result after being eliminated in two of her last three clay events.
Fernandez Describes Eala as ‘Mirror Image’ Opponent in Stuttgart Opener
During her on-court interview, Fernandez was asked if playing Eala felt like facing a “mirror image” of herself.
Both players are left-handed, known for their counter-punching styles and preference for a faster tempo.
“Oh man, 100 per cent [it was like playing a mirror image], Fernandez said. “I remember watching her [Eala] play a couple years back at the Rafa Nadal Academy, and she was playing super fast and I remember telling my coach at the time, ‘wow, she plays quick.’
“So it was like a mirror because [as] you said ‘it’s exactly like you.’ So just enjoy, figure it out and have fun.”
Read more:
Q&A
What was the score of the Leylah Fernandez vs. Alexandra Eala match at the Stuttgart Open?
Leylah Fernandez won the match against Alexandra Eala with a score of 6-1, 6-4.
How did Leylah Fernandez perform during the match against Alexandra Eala?
Leylah Fernandez started strong but faced a shaky finish, allowing Eala to come back to 5-4 in the second set before securing the win.
Where did the Leylah Fernandez and Alexandra Eala match take place?
The match took place at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, Germany.