MANILA – Alexandra Eala came within two points of advancing in the doubles draw of the Birmingham Open before suffering a heartbreaking defeat in a tense match tiebreak, bowing out alongside Czech partner Nikola Bartunkova on Monday night.
The Filipina-Czech tandem fell to British pair Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden, 4-6, 6-2, 9-11, in a tightly contested first-round doubles encounter that was decided only in a nerve-wracking super tiebreak.
Eala and Bartunkova looked poised to seize control early after storming to a 4-0 lead in the opening set. However, the British duo mounted an impressive comeback, reeling off six consecutive games to steal the set.
Refusing to fold, Eala and Bartunkova responded emphatically in the second frame, dominating Dart and Lumsden, 6-2, to level the match and force a deciding match tiebreak.
The statistics underscored how evenly matched the contest was.
Eala and Bartunkova actually outscored their opponents overall, winning 62 points compared to 59. They also held advantages in both service points won, 37-35, and receiving points won, 25-24.
The pair converted four of their six break-point opportunities, while Dart and Lumsden capitalized on three of six chances. Eala and Bartunkova were also more effective on second serve, winning 64 percent of points compared to just 33 percent for the British tandem.
Despite those advantages, Dart and Lumsden proved steadier in the crucial moments. The British pair posted a higher first-serve percentage, 87 percent against 82 percent, and captured the decisive super tiebreak to secure their place in the next round.
The victory was fueled by a pivotal six-game run that erased Eala and Bartunkova’s early four-game cushion in the opening set.
With her doubles campaign over, Eala now shifts her full attention to the singles competition, where the tournament’s top seed is set to open her bid against Australia’s Priscilla Hon in the Round of 32./PN
