Maagang nagtapos ang kampanya ng tambalan nina Alexandra "Alex" Eala at Venus Williams sa doubles event ng Canadian Open matapos silang talunin nina Miyu Kato at Liudmila Samsonova, 6-4, 6-3, sa Round of 32 nitong Huwebes (Biyernes sa Pilipinas).
Malakas ang naging simula nina Kato at Samsonova na agad umabante sa 2-0 sa unang set. Napanatili pa nila ang dalawang puntos na kalamangan kahit nakabawi sina Eala at Williams, 4-2.
Kalaunan, naitabla nina Eala at Williams ang iskor, ngunit muling nakontrol nina Kato at Samsonova ang laro upang masungkit ang unang set.
Pagpasok ng ikalawang set, ipinagpatuloy nina Kato at Samsonova ang maganda nilang laro at mabilis na nakalamang ng 4-0.
Nakabawi sina Eala at Williams sa magkasunod na laro upang makapuntos, ngunit nakalapit na sa panalo ang kanilang mga katunggali.
Nagawa pang makakuha ng isa pang laro nina Eala at Williams bago tuluyang sinelyuhan nina Kato at Samsonova ang panalo sa dalawang sunod na set.
Ito ang ikalawang pagtatambal nina Eala at Williams na unang nangyari noong June sa Bad Homburg Open.
Sa kabila ng pagkatalo, tinawag ng tennis icon na si Williams ang 21-anyos na Pinay player na isang "world star."
"You know, Alex is a world star. She's just incredible," ani Williams. “Besides the fact of her tennis, she's an incredible person, well-spoken and just an impressive young lady. So I like being around those kinds of things. So I think we both lift each other up."
Naniniwala si Williams na mas huhusay ang chemistry nila ni Eala kapag nabigyan pa ng pagkakataon na maglaro na magkasama.
"I think [we] have the same intent to just go after it. So we match that energy there, and I think with more opportunities to practice and play matches together, we'll really sync. So it's just very early now, so we're still getting the hang of it. But I love seeing those shots fly past me when I'm at the net. I'm like, 'Come on!'" sabi ni Williams.
Para naman kay Eala, itinuturing niyang mahalagang karanasan ang makatambal ang isang tennis icon.
"I think when I'm on court with Venus, there's a lot I can learn about mentality, and I guess when I'm on court with her, it also pushes me to kind of match her energy," saad ni Eala.
"And so, of course, when you're on court with someone who plays like her, you want to kind of give it your all, and I think I did my best today. Like she said, I think we fell short, but we had some great points," dagdag niya.
Babalik sa aksyon si Eala sa Biyernes (Sabado sa Pilipinas) sa torneo at makakaharap si Caty McNally sa Round of 32 ng singles event. – FRJ GMA News
