Alex Eala experiences singles setback at the Abu Dhabi Open but advances in doubles alongside Janice Tjen.
It was an impressive journey while it lasted in the singles draw, but Alex Eala can still provide significant joy to Filipino supporters at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open — alongside fellow Southeast Asian talent Janice Tjen.
Just an hour after her individual campaign concluded with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat to second seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, Eala shifted focus to partner with Indonesian up-and-comer Tjen — with the duo going on to deliver a remarkable performance in the doubles quarterfinals.
The pair, who have embraced their ‘SEAsters’ nickname in reference to their shared regional background, outperformed second seeds Zhang Shuai and Cristina Bucșa — securing a 6-3, 6-3 victory to earn their place in the semifinals of a WTA 500 event for the first time in their careers.
It is noteworthy that Zhang is a three-time Grand Slam champion, and as recently as last month’s Australian Open, while Bucșa was a bronze medalist at the 2024 Olympic Games – though both achieved these honors with different partners.
There was also a sense of retribution for Eala as it was Bucșa who dashed her hopes in the second round of last year’s US Open, after Eala became the first player from the Philippines to win a singles match in the main draw of a Grand Slam.
Strong starts proved crucial in both sets, as Eala and Tjen broke serve consecutively to jump ahead 3-0 on each occasion. That early advantage allowed them to control the match, combining effective net play with consistent baseline rallies to keep their more seasoned opponents at bay.
While Zhang and Bucșa sought to mount a comeback, the Southeast Asian duo consistently closed the door, maintaining composure in critical moments to finish each set without any complications.
The victory not only showcased Eala’s increasing comfort at this level but also highlighted the synergy she shares with Tjen, as the pair displayed maturity beyond their years.
Reaching the final four signifies a significant achievement for both players and represents another important advancement for Southeast Asian representation on the WTA circuit.
Next for the duo is a semifinal matchup against fourth seeds Tereza Mihalíková and Olivia Nicholls.
Earlier, a day after a stunning win in the round of 16 against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Eala faced defeat against world No. 11 Alexandrova in the singles quarterfinals.
Alexandrova established control early, breaking serve in the first set to take a 5-2 lead. Eala demonstrated determination by holding serve and extending the set, but the Russian closed it out at 6-3 with minimal margin for error.
Eala began the second set with her first lead of the match, holding serve to go up 1-0, but Alexandrova quickly countered with an early break to regain her momentum. The Filipino player managed to stay within reach, including a crucial hold and a brief tie at 3-all after creating a break opportunity.
However, Alexandrova elevated her performance when it was most needed, breaking back and decisively closing the match to advance, thwarting Eala’s comeback attempt despite her late push.
Source: espn.com
