Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) – Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala settled for a runner-up finish in her first doubles tournament in the professional tennis circuit.
Eala and Russian partner Oksana Selekhmeteva lost to the pair of Lithuania’s Justina Mikulskyte and Romania’s Oana Georgeta Simion, 3-6, 5-7, in the doubles finals of the W25 Platja D’Aro in Spain on Saturday.
Mikulskyte and Simion dominated Eala and Selekhmeteva in all ends of the floor during the first set as the two European nationals aced most of their points from serve.
Eala and Selekhmeteva adjusted early in the second set by keeping the game close with their timely points. They almost won the frame with a 5-4 lead, but the Mikulskyte-Simion tandem forced a two-game decider which went in their favor after scoring crucial break points in the homestretch.
Before advancing to the finals, Eala and Selekhmeteva outlasted the pair of South Africa’s Warona Mdluwa and Spain’s Valeria Koussenkova (6-2, 6-0), Russian tandem of Vlada Koval and Sofya Lansere (6-3, 2-6, 7-5 [12-10]), and the Dutch duo of Isabelle Haverlag and Suzan Lamens (6-3, 6-1).
Meanwhile, Eala ended her singles’ campaign in the second round after succumbing to hometown bet Irene Burillo Escorihuela, 2-6, 4-6. She earlier edged Alba Carrillo Marin, also of Spain, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5.
Eala, who will turn 16 on Sunday, won the 2020 Australian Open junior girls’ doubles title with Indonesian partner Priska Nugroho.
The Filipino tennis ace will next compete in the 2021 French Open juniors tournament, where she is part of the main draw.
Eala is currently the world no. 662 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association rankings. She remains the third best-ranked junior female tennis player in the world according to the International Tennis Federation.
READ: Alex Eala, Indonesian partner claim 2020 Australian Open junior doubles title
