Filipina tennis standout Alex Eala found herself in an unusual doubles scenario on Saturday at the 2025 MGM Macau Tennis Masters.
Originally slated to compete in mixed doubles alongside China’s Jerry Shang against a duo featuring world No. 9 Mirra Andreeva, Eala’s match took an unexpected turn when the Russian withdrew due to illness. The change left Eala and Shang facing an all‑male pairing of Yibing Wu and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in what became a lighthearted exhibition-style contest.
Despite the playful atmosphere, the match remained tight from start to finish. In the opening set, both sides traded games to reach 1-all and later 3-all, before Wu and Davidovich Fokina pulled ahead to claim the set, 7–5.
The second set unfolded in similar fashion, with ties at 1-all, 3-all, and 5-all, eventually stretching to 6-all. Wu and Davidovich Fokina ultimately closed out the match in straight sets, taking the tiebreak 7–6.
Asked afterward whether mixed doubles should be introduced into official tour events, Eala laughed and quipped, “I think maybe it was more fun for me than it was for Jerry.”
Eala is set to return to singles action on Saturday, December 28, where she is scheduled to face Andreeva—health permitting.
The Macau Tennis Masters marks Eala’s first appearance since her historic run at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, where she captured the women’s singles gold medal.
