Eala, Russian partner enter Platja D’Aro doubles semis

MANILA, Philippines — Filipina wunderkind Alex Eala took an early exit in women’s singles but made up for it with a semifinals entry in doubles play with partner Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia in the W25 Platja D’Aro in Spain early Friday.

The Eala-Selekhmeteva tandem stunned the top-seeded pair of Vlada Koval and Sofya Lansere from Russia, hacking out a close 6-3, 2-6, 12-10 victory in a thrilling quarterfinals match that lasted an hour and 15 minutes.

Eala and Selekhmeteva entered the women’s doubles event as an unseeded pair but proved steadier down the wire owing to their experience as former girls’ doubles grand slam champions.

The 2020 Australian Open champion Eala, and Selekhmeteva, the 2019 US Open titlist, unleashed three straight points in the decider to flip a 9-10 deficit and advance to the Final Four.

Eala, 15, and Selekhmeteva, 18, will shoot for a finals ticket against Isabelle Haverlag and Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands early Saturday. 

“Long day today with a singles and a doubles match. Not too lucky with my singles match but I play semifinals in doubles. Grateful smile. Everyday happy,” beamed Eala, the WTA No. 662 and ITF Juniors No. 3. 

The other semis bracket features Lithuania’s Justina Mikulskyte and Romania’s Oana Georgeta Simion against the Spanish tandem of Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Claudia Hoste Ferrer.

Eala’s win in the doubles action pushed her back on track after a Round of 16 exit in singles late Thursday night with a 6-2, 6-4 defeat against home bet Irene Burillo Escorihuela.