A stunning upset unfolded in Abu Dhabi as the Southeast Asian duo of Alexandra Eala and her Indonesian partner delivered a remarkable victory against the highly-regarded pairing of Leylah Fernandez and Kristina Mladenovic. The match, a thrilling three-set battle, concluded with a score of 7-5, 3-6, 10-6, sending shockwaves through the WTA 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.
The SEA sisters, as they’ve playfully dubbed themselves, seized control in the decisive moments, reeling off four consecutive points to break a 6-6 tie in the final set. This dramatic surge secured their place in the quarterfinals, overcoming a formidable opponent led by Mladenovic, a nine-time Grand Slam doubles champion.
The one hour and 33-minute contest showcased resilience and determination from Eala and Tjen. Their victory sets the stage for a challenging quarterfinal match against either the Ukrainian sisters Lyudmyla and Nadiia Kichenok, or the Chinese-Spanish team of Shuai Zhang and Cristina Bucsa, both highly ranked doubles teams.
“We are the SEA sisters. Go Southeast Asia!” exclaimed a jubilant Eala, radiating pride in her partnership and region. Her partner, Tjen, echoed the sentiment, adding, “We just won our first match playing together. Let’s go SEA!” Their energy and enthusiasm were palpable after the hard-fought win.
Despite being ranked lower in doubles compared to their opponents – Eala at No. 136 and Tjen at No. 68, against Fernandez at No. 80 and Mladenovic at No. 55 – the pair displayed unwavering confidence. Mladenovic’s impressive career includes a stint as the world No. 1 in doubles, but it proved insufficient against the rising force of the SEA sisters.
The first set was a tense affair, ultimately claimed by Eala and Tjen in a tiebreaker, 7-5. Fernandez and Mladenovic responded with a dominant performance in the second set, leveling the match and forcing a decisive rubber set.
It was in this final set that the youthful energy of Eala and Tjen truly shone. A crucial break of Fernandez’s serve, sealed by a powerful forehand return smash from Tjen, propelled them to a 4-0 closeout and a stunning victory.
Eala’s campaign in Abu Dhabi continues with a Round of 16 match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, who herself caused an upset by defeating Paula Badosa. Meanwhile, Tjen faced a tough challenge in Round 2, falling to Liudmila Samsonova despite a previous victory over Maya Joint, the very player who denied Eala a title last year.
The victory over Fernandez and Mladenovic is more than just a win; it’s a statement. It’s a testament to the growing strength of Southeast Asian tennis and a thrilling glimpse into the potential of this exciting new partnership.
