Pinay tennis champion Alexandra “Alex” Eala and Russian partner Oksana Selekhmeteva have clinched a final four teams spot at the French Open Girls’ Doubles tournament, bringing them closer to a shot at the Grand Slam title.
The No. 1-seeded pair fended off the aggressive challenge of No. 5 seeds Petra Marcinko of Croatia and Natalia Szabanin of Hungary in the quarterfinals match on June 10, 2021, wrapping up the match, 7-6(7), 7-6(5).
The 16-year-old Eala and 18-year-old Selekhmeteva clashed with the 15-year-old Croat and 17-year-old Hungarian during 1 hour and 39 minutes of thrilling action on the Roland-Garros court in Paris, France.
The Filipino-Russian pair dominated their earlier matches against Sofia Costoulas of Belgium and Laura Hietaranta of Finland in their Round 2 match and against Evialina Laskevich of Belarus and Alina Shcherbinina of Russia in the Round 1 opener.
Alex Eala, the reigning Australian Open Junior Girls’ Doubles champion, and Oksana Selekhmeteva, the 2019 US Open Girls’ Doubles champion, are campaigning for the French Open Grand Slam championship title coming off their finalist run at the W25 Platja D’Aro meet in Spain last May.
Before the quarterfinals match, Eala posted on social media about the pair’s performance in the doubles tourney and her early exit in the singles line-up.
“Win some, lose some. Though I’m out of the Singles event I’m glad that my partner Oksana and I are playing our Quarterfinals match tomorrow,” the Rafa Nadal Academy scholar said.
International Tennis Federation (ITF) Juniors World No. 3 Alex Eala ITF No. 10 Selekhmeteva are meeting the Italian tandem of Eleonora Alvisi (ITF No. 57) and Lisa Pigato (ITF No. 42) in the semi-finals this Friday.
SEND CONGRATULATIONS AND WELL WISHES in the comments below to Pinay champion Alex Eala and Russian partner Oksana Selekhmeteva for clinching a final four berth at the French Open Girls’ Doubles!
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