Camille Naredo

Philippines's Alexandra Eala reacts after a point as she plays against US Iva Jovic during their women's singles match on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2026. Alain Jocard, AFP

Philippines's Alexandra Eala reacts after a point as she plays against US Iva Jovic during their women's singles match on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2026. (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD / AFP)

Article (news)

French Open

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780315104650AFP__20260526__B42C8TW__v1__MidRes__TennisFraOpen2026.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Philippines&#x27;s Alexandra Eala reacts after a point as she plays against US Iva Jovic during their women&#x27;s singles match on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2026. Alain Jocard, AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Philippines&#x27;s Alexandra Eala reacts after a point as she plays against US Iva Jovic during their women&#x27;s singles match on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2026. <em>Alain Jocard, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The tandem of Alex Eala and WTA No. 69 Nikola Bartunkova made an early exit in the doubles draw of the Birmingham Open after bowing to the pair of Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden in a thriller.</p><p>The second-seeded wild cards scored a 6-4, 2-6, 11-9 victory, turning back the Filipino-Czech pair in a marathon match.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/5/31/tennis-alex-eala-kicks-off-grass-season-against-familiar-foe-hon-in-birmingham-2246">READ: Alex Eala kicks off grass season against familiar foe Hon in Birmingham</a></div><p>Eala and Bartunkova raced to a commanding 4-0 advantage before Dart and Lumsden found their footing and surged ahead, 5-4, eventually closing out the opener. </p><p>The second set saw Eala and Bartunkova turn the tables, pulling away for a 5-2 advantage before holding to love to send the match to a tiebreak.</p><p>The pairs traded points evenly at 2-2, 3-3, and then 4-4, before Eala and Bartunkova briefly seized a 6-4 advantage.</p><p>However, the match was far from over as Dart and Lumsden recovered 6-all to bring it to 8-all and eventually win 11-9. </p><p>In a match that lasted 1 hour and 28 minutes, Eala and Bartunkova saw two aces, no double faults and 62 total points made with 4 of 6 break points won.</p><p>The Filipina tennis star will now gear up for her singles match against Priscilla Hon.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/6/1/alex-eala-to-team-up-with-venus-williams-in-bad-homburg-open-report-1312">READ: Alex Eala to team up with Venus Williams in Bad Homburg Open</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qroMzuo3OkQ?&amp;t=3s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>The tandem of Alex Eala and WTA No. 69 Nikola Bartunkova made an early exit in the doubles draw of the Birmingham Open after bowing to the pair of Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden in a thriller.</p>

The tandem of Alex Eala and WTA No. 69 Nikola Bartunkova made an early exit in the doubles draw of the Birmingham Open after bowing to the pair of Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden in a thriller.

Tennis: Eala, Bartunkova fall short in Birmingham Open doubles

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Tennis: Eala, Bartunkova fall short in Birmingham Open doubles

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 01, 2026 08:00 PM PHT

Read More:

Birmingham Open

doubles

Alex Eala

Nikola Bartunkova

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