Alex Eala, Zeynep Sonmez fall to higher-ranked foes to exit Madrid Open Doubles

Alex Eala and Zeynep Sonmez exited the doubles competition after falling to the duo of Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova, 6–1, 7–5, in the Madrid Open Doubles Round of 16 in Spain on Saturday.

Eala, who already absorbed an early exit in the singles event, and Sonmez staged a furious rally in Set 2 but ultimately lost steam as the second-seeded tandem of Townsend and Siniakova completed the sweep to advance. 

Townsend and Siniakova surged to a quick 5-1 lead in Set 1 before the latter buried a drop shot on the final play to cap a dominant opening frame showing against the Filipina and Turkish pair. 

Siniakova, the world No. 2 doubles player, and Townsend, the No. 5 globally, raced to another huge lead to open Set 2 with a 3-1 swing. But Eala and Sonmez won three straight games to clinch a 4-3 cushion and stage a fightback. 

Eala and Sonmez were able to pick up a set point at 5-4, but Townsend and Siniakova stole the next three, including the last one where Townsend unloaded back-to-back smashes to wrap up the straight-sets win. 

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News