Alex Eala, partner Nikola Bartunkova fall in Wimbledon doubles

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines returns the ball during the second round women’s singles match against Maya Joint of Australia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala and Czech partner Nikola Bartunkova bowed out of the Wimbledon doubles, yielding to Jelena Ostapenko and Sofia Kenin, 6-3, 3-6, 1-6, early Friday (Philippine time).

Hours after making history in the singles event, Eala tried to replicate her success in the doubles, but she and Bartunkova couldn’t capitalize on their first-set win.

Eala and Bartunkova took a 2-1 lead to open the second set, only for Ostapenko and Kenin to catch fire and win five of the next six games to force a decider.

The eighth seed pair of Ostapenko and Kenin had a 3-0 start in the third before Eala and Bartunkova won a game, but the Latvian and American proved too strong, completing the comeback after an hour and 53 minutes.

Despite the first-round exit, both Eala and Bartunkova are headed to the third round of singles.

The Filipino tennis ace battles Iga Swiatek on Saturday after making a breakthrough third-round entry in a Grand Slam tournament with a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 win over Maya Joint.

Bartunkova faces fellow Czech Barbora Krejcikova on Friday after she took down her compatriot Katerina Siniakova in the second round, 6-2, 6-4.

Before their team up in the Wimbledon, Eala beat Bartunkova in three sets to rule the Birmingham Classic last June 7.