Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) – Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala ended her 2021 US Open run on Saturday as she settled for a semifinal finish in the girls doubles division.
Eala and Belgian partner Hanne Vandewinkel lost to the American duo of Reese Brantmeier and Elvina Kalieva, 7-5, 2-6, (7-10), in the semifinal match that lasted for one hour and nine minutes.
Eala and Vandewinkel posted a come-from-behind victory in the first set after being down 3-5 as the Filipino-Belgian partnership made most of their first serve points and unforced errors from the American pair.
But the Brantmeier-Kalieva duo dominated the second set as they notched their timely winners in the final play of each game.
The sixth seed Eala-Vandewinkel pair never recovered in the tiebreak as their American opponents, seeded eight in the tournament, forced them to commit errors and fortified their lead by as big as five points.
The 2021 US Open girls doubles finals will be an all-American showdown, with the Brantmeier-Kalieva tandem facing the duo of Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery.
Earlier in the day, Eala and Vandewinkel defeated the American pair of Elizabeth Coleman and Madison Sieg, 6-1, 6-7, (10-7), in the quarterfinals.
The Filipina tennis ace also bowed out in her girls singles campaign on Friday after losing to Swiss foe Sebastianna Scilipoti in the quarterfinals.
