By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
It was a tough day for Alex Eala but the country’s “sports princess” still came out victorious – not only once but twice.
First, Eala teamed up with Australian Destanee Aiava to beat France’s Julie Belgraver and Great Britain’s Ella McDonald, 7-5, 6-2, in the doubles of the W25 Roehampton in Great Britain on Wednesday, Aug. 9.
Hours later, Eala made her presence felt in the singles event with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Australian qualifier Gabriella Da Silva Fick, 6-3, 6-4.
Eala’s doubles victory with Aiava earned them a quarterfinal meeting with the top-seeded Australians Talia Gibson and Petra Hule, who survived a second-set scare before beating Croatia’s Mariana Drazic and Korea’s Ku Yeonwoo, 6-2, 7-6 (3).
Incidentally, Eala’s singles win arranged her a second-round date with her doubles partner, Aiava, who downed Latvia’s Diana Marcinkevica, 7-6 (2), 6-2.
It is expected to be a challenge for Eala in meeting a familiar foe in Aiava since this would also be the second time that they are meeting in an ITF pro event.
They clashed in the first round of the W25+H Tauste-Zaragoza in Spain last June where the Australian won, 6-1, 6-2.
On paper, though, Eala boasts of a higher ranking at No. 250 compared to Aiava’s 289.
The Australian, however, is itching to nail her first pro singles title this year.
