Philippines’ Alexandra Eala hits a return to USA's Alycia Parks during their women's singles match on day two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 19, 2026. David Gray, AFP
(UPDATED) Filipina tennis star Alex Eala and Brazilian partner Ingrid Martins bowed out of contention in women's doubles of the Australian Open on Tuesday evening.
This, after they absorbed a three-set loss against Japan's Shuko Aoyama and Poland's Magda Linette, who shook off a slow start en route to a 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 win at Court 14 in Melbourne.
The results caps Eala's maiden campaign in the Australian Open, with the Filipina having lost to Alycia Parks of the United States in the first round of women's singles on Monday.
It was a sorry loss for Eala and Martins, as they had raced to a 4-0 start in the first set only to succumb to their errors and allow Aoyama and Linette to work their way back into the match.
Eala held her serve to put them at set point, 5-3, but Aoyama and Linette won back-to-back games to force a tie. The opener went to a tiebreak, which Aoyama and Linette dominated. They surged to a 6-3 advantage, before Martins sent a forehand wide to clinch the frame in their opponents' favor.
Eala and Martins roared back in Set 2, taking a quickfire 6-2 win to force a decider.
But Aoyama and Linette regrouped quickly, winning the first four games before Eala again held her serve to get her team on board. The sixth game was a back-and-forth affair that featured five deuces, but Linette committed back-to-back errors to hand the win to Eala and Martins.
The Brazilian went on to hold her serve to bring them within one game, 4-3, but Aoyama and Linette regained their poise, dominating the rest of the way to claim their place in the second round.