Alex Eala and Janice Tjen are staying a little longer in the Abu Dhabi Open after booking a trip to the semifinals.
Alex Eala isn’t going home just yet.
Fresh from her singles exit, Eala teamed up with Janice Tjen and disposed of Zhang Shuai and Cristina Bucsa, 6-3, 6-3, in the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open doubles quarterfinals early Friday, Feb. 6 (Manila time).
Proudly representing Southeast Asia, the Eala-Tjen duo is now through to the semifinals of the WTA 500 tourney.
[RELATED STORY: Alexandrova prevents Eala comeback in Abu Dhabi QF: 'I saw the last match']
They were simply in control the entire way, getting the job done in only an hour and six minutes at the Stadium Court.
Eala and her Indonesian partner broke early, zooming to a 3-0 lead they preserved until the end of the opening frame.
Not letting up after taking the first set, Eala and Tjen raced to a scintillating 3-0 lead to start the second.
But Zhang, already with two doubles titles this season, including the recent Australian Open, and Busca refused to just roll over and die, winning the next two games to close in, 3-2.
But the tennisters from Asia regained steam after that, claiming three of the last four games to stun their more experienced doubles foes.
[ALSO READ: Amid Abu Dhabi tilt, Alex Eala earns spot in loaded Qatar Open main draw]
Earlier, Eala dropped a 3-6, 3-6 decision against world No. 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova in their quarterfinal tiff.
She got only a brief respite and went to work right away, looking unshaken by the heartbreaking loss as she and Tjen disposed of Zhang and Bucsa in dominant fashion.
—
Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.