Just an hour after her solo campaign came to an end with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat to second seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, Eala switched to a team with Indonesian rising star Tjen – with the duo delivering a statement performance in the doubles quarter-finals.
The pair, who have been nicknamed – and happily accepted – the ‘SEAsters’ in reference to their shared region of origin, dominated second seeds Zhang Shuai and Cristina Bucșa – on their way to a 6-3, 6-3 win and a ticket to the semi-finals of a WTA 500 event for the first time in their careers.
It’s worth noting that Zhang is a three-time Grand Slam champion, most recently at last month’s Australian Open, while Bucșa was a bronze medalist at the 2024 Olympics – albeit both with different partners.
There was also an element of revenge for Eala, as it was Bucșa who ended her hopes in the second round of last year’s US Open, after the former became the first player from the Philippines to win a singles match in the main draw of a Grand Slam.
Fast starts proved decisive in both sets, as Eala and Tjen struck early with successive breaks to take the lead 3-0 each time. That early cushion allowed them to dictate play, combining sharp net coverage with steady baseline exchanges to keep their more experienced opponents at bay.
As Zhang and Bucșa tried to find their way back, the Southeast Asian duo consistently closed the door and held their ground in key moments to end each set without drama.
The win not only highlighted Eala’s growing comfort at this level, but also underlined the chemistry she shares with Tjen, as the pair showed poise well beyond their years.
Reaching the last four marks a breakthrough for both players and another meaningful step forward for Southeast Asia’s representation on the WTA stage.
Next up for the pair is a semi-final against fourth seed Tereza Mihalíková and Olivia Nicholls.
Earlier, a day after a stunning round-of-16 victory against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Eala suffered a defeat to world No. 11 Alexandrova in the singles quarter-finals.
Alexandrova set the tone early, breaking serve in the opening set to take control and eventually build a 5-2 cushion. Eala showed perseverance by holding serve and extending the set, but the Russian closed the set at 6-3 with little room for error.
Eala opened the second set with her first lead of the match, holding serve to go 1-0, but Alexandrova responded quickly with an early break to regain the momentum. The Filipino managed to stay within striking distance, including a key hold and a brief stalemate at 3-all, after earning a break chance.
However, Alexandrova raised her level when it mattered most, breaking back and sealing the match with the power to advance, denying Eala a comeback despite her late resistance.
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