Alex Eala vies for bounce back win at the 2026 Australian Open, this time in doubles play with partner Ingrid Martins.
Alex Eala turns her focus to the women’s doubles draw of the Australian Open as she teams up with Brazilian specialist Ingrid Martins, taking on the pair of Magda Linette and Shuko Aoyama in a first-round clash on Tuesday, January 20, at Melbourne Park.
Fresh off a tough early exit in the singles tournament, Eala is eager to reset and make an impact on the doubles court, leaning on the experience of Martins, a former world no. 47 in the WTA doubles rankings.
The Filipina will look to quickly shake off her loss to Alycia Parks, hoping the partnership with the seasoned Brazilian can provide stability and rhythm early in the match.
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Martins brings a strong résumé into the contest, highlighted by two WTA doubles titles and a third-round appearance at Wimbledon in 2023.
She also reached the second round of the US Open women’s doubles in her most recent Grand Slam outing, underscoring her comfort on the biggest stages.
Her presence gives Eala a reliable anchor as she continues to build her own doubles credentials at the major level.
Standing in their way are Magda Linette and Shuko Aoyama, a pairing that blends experience and pedigree.
Eala will take confidence from having previously beating Linette in singles play at the ASB Classic, though the dynamic changes significantly in doubles.
Linette, who once climbed to world no. 26 in doubles in 2022, joins forces with Aoyama in a bid to push deeper into the Melbourne draw.
With redemption on her mind and a proven partner by her side, Eala hopes the doubles court provides a timely bounce-back as her Australian Open campaign continues.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]