Alex Eala’s buildup to the French Open hit a snag Monday night (Tuesday in Manila) after the Filipina rising star bowed out in the Round of 32 of the Strasbourg Open, falling to Ukrainian qualifier Oleksandra Oliynykova, 6-3, 5-7, 3-6.

Eala started strong but could not sustain her momentum as Oliynykova clawed back to complete the comeback in a tightly contested match that stretched over three sets.

“It’s an amazing match. It’s very close [and it’s] a fight for every point,” said Oliynykova, the World No. 66, who was also making her Strasbourg debut.

The 20-year-old Eala, who recently surged back into the WTA Top 40 at World No. 38 in the latest rankings, showed flashes of her aggressive baseline game but struggled to close out key points in the final two sets as the Ukrainian qualifier grew steadier under pressure.

Despite the early exit, Eala remains on track for a strong clay-court season as she turns her focus to the French Open later this month, where she is expected to compete against the sport’s elite.

Oliynykova, meanwhile, advances deeper into the draw after marking a breakthrough performance in her Strasbourg main-draw debut.