Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala and Turkish partner Zeynep Sönmez bowed out of the doubles competition at the Madrid Open after falling to the tournament’s second-seeded pair of Kateřina Siniaková and Taylor Townsend in the Round of 16 on Saturday.Eala and Sönmez were handed a tough challenge against one of the strongest doubles tandems in the draw, with Siniakova currently ranked world No. 2 in doubles and Townsend sitting at No. 5.The top duo also entered the match in red-hot form this season. Townsend carried a stellar 16-1 doubles win-loss record in 2026, while Siniakova owned an equally impressive 19-3 mark. The second seeds quickly asserted control early in the opening set, building a 2-0 advantage before Eala helped keep the match within reach after the pair saved two break points in a crucial game.<div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/4/24/alex-eala-s-madrid-open-campaign-ends-in-loss-to-mertens-2015">Alex Eala&#x27;s Madrid Open campaign ends in loss to Mertens </a></div> With Eala serving at 1-2, the 20-year-old delivered a composed hold at love to keep them close and energize supporters, including Filipino and Turkish fans waving their flags in the crowd.<div> </div>However, Siniakova and Townsend’s experience proved too much in the opener as Townsend’s strong first serves helped the pair extend their lead to 5-1 before eventually closing out the first set, 6-1. Eala and Sönmez again found themselves trailing in the second set at 1-3 but showed resilience by clawing their way back into the match. The Filipino-Turkish duo won key points to level the set at 3-3 before capitalizing on a net error from their opponents to grab a 4-3 lead — their first advantage of the match. They continued to fight despite facing pressure late in the set, even recovering from a 0-30 deficit in one game to level at 30-all and stay within striking distance.<div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/4/21/alex-eala-shines-at-laureus-sports-awards-0922">Alex Eala shines at Laureus Sports Awards </a></div> Still, Siniakova and Townsend steadied themselves in the closing stretch and sealed the match with a 7-5 second-set victory. The loss ends Eala’s campaign in Madrid after her singles run also came to a close on Friday following a 2-6, 1-6 defeat to Elise Mertens.

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala and Turkish partner Zeynep Sönmez bowed out of the doubles competition at the Madrid Open after falling to the tournament’s second-seeded pair of Kateřina Siniaková and Taylor Townsend in the Round of 16 on Saturday.

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala and Turkish partner Zeynep Sönmez bowed out of the doubles competition at the Madrid Open after falling to the tournament’s second-seeded pair of Kateřina Siniaková and Taylor Townsend in the Round of 16 on Saturday.

Eala-Sönmez duo exits Madrid Open doubles despite strong second-set fightback

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Eala-Sönmez duo exits Madrid Open doubles despite strong second-set fightback

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 25, 2026 10:04 PM PHT

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Updated April 25, 2026 10:20 PM PHT

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Alex Eala

Zeynep Sonmez

Tennis

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