MANILA — Alexandra Eala and Janice Tjen saw their strong run in the Abu Dhabi Open end in the semifinals after bowing to the more clinical tandem of Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls, 6-4, 6-2.
The Filipino-Indonesian duo matched their rivals in stretches and even finished with more aces, 2-0, but were undone by missed opportunities at crucial moments on Friday, particularly on break points that swung momentum firmly to the European pair.
Mihalikova and Nicholls converted three of five break-point chances, while Eala and Tjen came up empty on all five of their own opportunities. That disparity proved decisive, allowing the eventual winners to pull away late in the opening set and dictate the tempo for the rest of the match.
Service efficiency also tilted the contest. Mihalikova and Nicholls landed 74 percent of their first serves compared to 67 percent for Eala and Tjen, and were more effective behind those deliveries, winning 73 percent of first-serve points against their opponents’ 56 percent.
The European pair likewise dominated second-serve exchanges, taking 78 percent of those points versus 69 percent for the Filipino-Indonesian duo.
Overall, Mihalikova and Nicholls outscored Eala and Tjen 57-48 in total points, including a 21-18 edge in receiving points. They also led in service points won, 36-30, and service games claimed, 9-6.
A decisive five-game run widened the gap in the second set, with Mihalikova and Nicholls eventually sealing the straight-sets win and a place in the final with a 12-6 advantage in total games won.
Despite the setback, Eala and Tjen capped another deep run in an international tournament, continuing to show steady progress and growing chemistry as a doubles partnership on the professional circuit./PN
