MANILA — Rising Filipina tennis star Alexandra Eala and partner Janice Tjen delivered a statement win on Tuesday night, eliminating the higher-profile tandem of Leylah Fernandez and Kristina Mladenovic to advance to the women’s doubles quarterfinals of the Abu Dhabi Open in the United Arab Emirates.
Eala and Tjen outlasted the Filipina-Canadian–French pair, 7-5, 3-6, 10-6, in the opening round at the Zayed Sports City International Tennis Center, leaning on poise and precision in the match tiebreak to close out the contest.
Despite Fernandez and Mladenovic holding the edge in total points (70-60) and games won (11-10), Eala and Tjen proved more efficient in the decisive moments. The duo posted a strong 78 percent first-serve rate, well above their opponents’ 62 percent, a key factor in controlling pressure situations.
Both teams were level in points won off first serves at 61 percent, but Eala and Tjen gained an edge on second-serve points, 69 percent to 65 percent. They also finished ahead in service points, 42-34, and narrowly in receiving points, 28-26.
Serve discipline tilted the balance further in favor of the Eala-Tjen pair, who committed just two double faults compared to six by Fernandez and Mladenovic. Each side recorded one ace.
While Fernandez and Mladenovic converted more break-point opportunities at four of six, Eala and Tjen answered by claiming three of six and dominating the lone tiebreak of the match to seal the upset.
Eala is scheduled to return to action on Wednesday night (Thursday in the Philippines) when she faces Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus in the singles round of 16./PN
