Eala, German partner lose in Wimbledon doubles

Sports

ALEX Eala’s maiden campaign in the Wimbledon Championships came to an end after she and German partner Eva Lys dropped their first-round assignment in the ladies doubles on Thursday, July 3.

Playing for the first time together, Eala and Lys bowed to the Brazilian-American pair of Ingrid Martins and Quinn Gleason, 6-4, 6-2.

Eala and Lys actually started strong, taking the first game of the opening set for a 1-0 lead. Martins and Gleason were quick to answer, winning the next three games en route to the dominant first-set victory.

The second set followed the same script. Eala and Lys started strong, jumping to an early 1-0 lead before Martins and Gleason asserted their might by chalking up five straight wins for a commanding 5-1 cushion.

The loss in the doubles came just days after Eala faltered in the singles competition where she bowed to Czech defending champion Barbora Krejcikova.

Eala created quite a stir in the lead-up to Wimbledon when she battled all the way from the qualifying round to advance to the final of the Eastbourne Open.

Though she came up empty-handed, Eala relished her stint in London, England. After her loss to Krejcikova, Eala, now ranked No. 56 in the world, took to social media and marveled at her Centre Court debut in Wimbledon.

“Realized something funny yesterday – when you’re living your dream, it doesn’t feel real,” said Eala on Instagram. “Yesterday, I was living my dream. Couldn’t have asked for a better debut. That match was special in more ways than one — to be able to fulfill a childhood dream and be part of something bigger than myself, history for my country.”(CCM)