SENT packing in Madrid were best friends and doubles partners Alex Eala and Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez, as they lost to second-seeded Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova, 1-6, 7-5, on Saturday night, Manila time.
The young guns didn’t stand a chance against the doubles world No. 2 and No. 5’s strong start. They were able to squeeze in a game in the third game, but the veterans were quick on their feet to regain control.
The following set saw a different story, with ties at 3-3, 4-4, and 5-5, as the younger pair made a gallant attempt to stretch the match.
READ: Alex Eala exits Madrid Open after falling to Elise Mertens
The Czech-American duo, however, showed maturity to take it away in an extended set within an hour and 10 minutes in the round of 16 of the women’s doubles play.
Eala also made a round two exit in the singles play last Friday night. She will next take her act to the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, another WTA 1000 clay tournament.
The campaign marked the end of her third clay tournament, following Linz and Stuttgart.
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