Eala and Andorran partner fall short in Madrid quarterfinals

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Alex Eala and partner Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva from Andorra were close in booking a semifinals berth in the 2021 ITF World Women’s Tennis Tour but failed to win in the super tiebreak duel, 5-7, 6-4, 6-10 against USA’s Ashley Lahey and Australia’s Olivia Tjandramulia.

One of the most thrilling doubles duels of the tournament featured two equally matched pairings with almost the same strengths.

Eala’s heavy baseline game and Kasintseva’s quickness in the net area were matched well by the opposition with their aggressiveness and great chemistry.

The pairing from USA and Australia immediately went to work in the opening set after scoring a much-needed service break from Eala and Kasintseva.

However, the Filipina ace and the pride of Andorra answered back in the second set and finally found their rhythm.

Eala did a good job setting up Kasintseva in the net to equalize the match and force a crucial super tiebreak in the third set.

They were close in clinching the victory but Lahey and Tjandramulia rallied in the most crucial stretch of the super tiebreak where they would roll to a 4-1 run.