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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alex Eala teams up with Ukrainian veteran in Guangzhou Open

Alex Eala teams up with Ukrainian veteran in Guangzhou Open

Published Oct 19, 2025 01:11 pm

At A Glance

  • The singles draw has yet to be released at press time, but the Filipina tennis sensation is also seeing action in the doubles where she is paired with Ukrainian Nadiia Kichenok.
Alex Eala returns to court when she competes in the 2025 Guangzhou Open slated this week in China.
The singles draw has yet to be released at press time, but the Filipina tennis sensation is also seeing action in the doubles where she is paired with Ukrainian Nadiia Kichenok.
The pair, however, has their hands full early in this Women’s Tennis Association (WTA250) event as they are up against fourth seed Emily Appleton and Tang Qianhui in the first round on Monday, Oct. 20.
Eala, ranked No. 204 in the WTA doubles, last saw action in the doubles event last July when she teamed up with German Eva Lys at the Wimbledon Championships. The duo, however, lost in the first round to Brazilian Ingrid Martins and American Quinn Gleason.
Eala and Kichenok expect a tough match against their British-Chinese opponents. Appleton is currently ranked No. 80 in the doubles, while Tang is at No. 78.
The 26-year-old Appleton also has one WTA and 20 International Tennis Federation (ITF) doubles titles, while Tang boasts of three career doubles crowns.
While Eala also has three ITF doubles titles, her 33-year-old partner is more accomplished. Kichenok is a two-time doubles quarterfinalist at the Olympics, as well as in the Grand Slams. She ranked as high as No. 29 in the doubles last 2022.
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