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NEW YORK — Alexandra Eala and her Mexican partner Renata Zarazua were eliminated in the second round of the French Open women’s doubles tournament today, May 30. They lost to Serbia’s Olga Danilovic and Russia’s Anastasia Potapova with scores of 6-1 and 6-3.
The Danilovic and Potapova duo dominated early, taking the first set 6-1 with aggressive net play and powerful baseline shots. Despite training 4-0 in the second set, Eala and Zarazua showed resilience, winning two games in a row to close the gap. However, the higher-ranked pair regained control, sealing the victory with a 6-3 on the second set.
This marks the end of Eala’s run at Roland Garros, as she also exited in the first round of the singles competition against Colombia’s Emiliana Arango.
Eala and Zarazua secured a first-round win against Emily Appleton & Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers 7-5, 6-4. With Eala’s first Grand Slam doubles victory, it is another milestone for her.
Eala reflected on her French Open doubles loss with a positive outlook. She acknowledged the challenge of facing Danilovic and Potapova, but emphasized that she was proud of her performance alongside Zarazua.
A valuable learning experience
She mentioned that playing in a Grand Slam doubles event was a valuable learning experience, and she’s eager to continue improving. She also expressed gratitude for the support she received from fans and her team, saying that setbacks like this only motivate her to work harder for future tournaments.
While Eala’s partnership with Zarazua at the French Open was solid, tennis fans say it did not have the same level of success or chemistry as her doubles run with Coco Gauff at the Rome Open. The Zarazua and Eala team had moments of strong teamwork but struggled against higher-ranked opponents in Paris.
Eala and Gauff had an instant connection despite meeting for the first time at the Miami Open. Gauff, a Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 in doubles, provided valuable mentorship. They reached the quarterfinals at the Rome Open, winning two straight-set matches before falling to eventual champions Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini. Gauff’s aggressive net play and strong baseline game complemented Eala’s style, making them a formidable duo.
Standout moment with Gauff
Eala herself acknowledged that playing with Gauff was a learning experience, helping her refine her doubles strategy and preparation. While her partnership with Zarazua was competitive, her time with Gauff in Rome was a standout moment in her doubles career.
Despite the early exit, Eala remains optimistic about her future, stating that she will come back stronger. She has had a breakthrough year, making history as the first Filipino woman to compete in the singles main draw of a Grand Slam.
Next tournament
Although her next tournament after the French Open has not been officially confirmed yet, she is expected to continue competing in the WTA Tour’s clay-court season. She’ll likely take some time to regroup before preparing for her next tournament.
Before the US Open in August, she is expected to compete in several tournaments to maintain her momentum on the WTA Tour. Based on her recent schedule, she might participate in some possible events:
- National Bank Open (Canada) – August 4-17. A WTA 1000 event that serves as a key warm-up for the US Open. Eala could secure a direct entry or receive a wildcard.
- Cincinnati Open – August 18-31. Another WTA 1000 tournament that attracts top-ranked players. An excellent opportunity for Eala to test her game against elite competition.
- International Tennis Hall of Fame Open (Newport, USA) – July 6-13. A WTA 125 event that could help her gain more match experience before the bigger tournaments.
Her participation in these events will depend on her ranking and tournament invitations, but she’s likely to compete in at least one WTA 1000 event. She will likely enter the Wimbledon 2025 Qualifying Tournament, which will take place from June 23 to June 26 at the Community Sport Centre in Roehampton, London.
If she wins three rounds, she’ll secure a spot in the main draw at Wimbledon. Based on her past performances, she’ll be aiming to break through after falling short in 2024 against Lulu Sun in the final round.
