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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alex Eala, Iva Jovic yield in doubles opener at Indian Wells

Alex Eala, Iva Jovic yield in doubles opener at Indian Wells

Published Mar 8, 2026 11:26 am

At A Glance

  • Eala and Jovic, reunited after reaching the semifinals of the ASB Classic last January, looked to seize early momentum against their more experienced, unseeded opponents, but Ostapenko and Baptiste dictated the tempo from the outset and never looked back.
Alex Eala, left, and Iva Jovic. (File Photo/ WTA)
Alex Eala, left, and Iva Jovic. (File Photo/ WTA)
Alex Eala bowed out early in the women’s doubles of the Indian Wells after she and Iva Jovic yielded to Jelena Ostapenko and Hailey Baptiste, 6-2, 6-2, in the opening round on Sunday, March 8 (Philippine time).
Eala and Jovic, reunited after reaching the semifinals of the ASB Classic last January, looked to seize early momentum against their more experienced, unseeded opponents, but Ostapenko and Baptiste dictated the tempo from the outset and never looked back.
Ostapenko, a 2024 US Open doubles champion, and Baptiste, who has one WTA doubles crown, quickly asserted their might with 3-0 and 4-1 leads before claiming the first set, and continued their assault in the second frame, needing only one hour to win the match.
The victory arranged Ostapenko and Baptiste a Round of 16 meeting with Mirra Andreeva and Victorkia Mboko, who stunned fourth seed Zhang Shuai and Elise Mertens, 6-4, 4-6, 10-8.
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