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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alex Eala, partner stun veterans Venus Williams, Svitolina in ASB Classic doubles opener

Alex Eala, partner stun veterans Venus Williams, Svitolina in ASB Classic doubles opener

Published Jan 5, 2026 01:43 pm

At A Glance

  • The unseeded Eala and Jovic escaped a close first set before dominating the second to clinch the shocking victory in one hour and 29 minutes.
Alex Eala, right, and Iva Jovic. (ASB Classic)
Alex Eala, right, and Iva Jovic. (ASB Classic)
Rising stars Alex Eala and American Iva Jovic took the doubles opening round of the ASB Classic by storm after stunning tennis veterans Venus Williams and Elina Svitolina, 7-6 (7), 6-1, in Auckland, New Zealand on Monday, Jan. 5.
The unseeded Eala and Jovic escaped a close first set before dominating the second to clinch the shocking victory in one hour and 29 minutes.
Though Williams and Svitolina received a wildcard, the duo boasts vast experience, with the 45-year-old Williams owning 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and Svitolina holding two career doubles crowns.
Their experience was evident in the first set as Williams and Svitolina dug deep from a 0-2 deficit to win four straight games for a 4-2 lead before Eala and Jovic held firm to force a tiebreak.
Eala and Jovic maintained that composure in the tense breaker, overturning a 5-6 deficit to clinch the set.
They carried the same firepower in the second frame, cruising to a 4-1 lead and never looking back.
With the triumph, the pair set up a quarterfinal date with the winner between top seeds Asia Muhammad and Erin Routliffee, and Jesika Malekova and Renata Zarazua.
The doubles match, however, would have to wait as Eala is scheduled to meet two-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist Donna Vekic in the singles opening round on Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Match is at 3:10 p.m.
This is Eala’s first tournament of the season, serving as a launchpad for her Australian Open campaign, where she will make her main-draw debut in the said Grand Slam.
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