Filipina tennis standout Alex Eala and Czech partner Nikola Bartunkova bowed out of the doubles competition of the WTA 125 Birmingham Open on Monday night.
Eala and Bartunkova fell short to British duo Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden , 4-6, 6-2, 9-11, in a match that lasted through a deciding match tiebreak.
The Filipina-Czech tandem appeared headed for a strong start after building a commanding 4-0 advantage in the opening set. However, Dart and Lumsden recovered in dramatic fashion, winning the next six games to take the set.
Eala and Bartunkova quickly regrouped in the second frame, dominating the British pair, 6-2, to force a winner-take-all tiebreak.
Match statistics showed just how closely contested the encounter was. Eala and Bartunkova finished with 62 total points won compared to 59 by Dart and Lumsden. They also won more service points, 37-35, and held a slight edge in receiving points, 25-24.
The pair converted four of six break-point opportunities, while their opponents capitalized on three of six chances. Eala and Bartunkova also performed better on second serve, winning 64 percent of those points compared to 33 percent for Dart and Lumsden.
Despite the defeat, the numbers reflected a tightly fought battle. Dart and Lumsden posted a higher first-serve percentage at 87 percent against 82 percent and won the lone tiebreak of the match. The British pair also put together a six-game winning streak during their comeback in the opening set.
With her doubles run over, Eala will now concentrate on the singles draw, where the tournament’s top seed is scheduled to face Australia’s Priscilla Hon in the Round of 32.
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Just one WNBA coach has totaled 150 career wins faster than Las Vegas’ Becky Hammon, who reached the milestone Sunday thanks to the Aces’ 91-81 win over the Golden State Valkyries.
Hammon hit 150 wins – regular season and playoffs — in 205 games as a coach, all with the Aces. Currently coaching in her fifth year, Hammon’s victory pace trails only Van Chancellor, the former Houston Comets top charge who reached 150 in 198 games.
“What stands out the most to me is how much I enjoy the process,” Hammon said. “We’re a process kind of team. If you go through the right process, you get good results. The results will be there.”
Hammon has been the head coach for all three of Las Vegas’ three WNBA championships (2022, ’23, ’25).
“She’s a player’s coach,” Aces star Jackie Young said. “I’m super thankful for her. She really changed my career.”
Four-time MVP A’Ja Wilson echoed that sentiment.
“I would run through a brick wall for Becky, as well,” Wilson said. “She instills so much power in us, so much confidence in us, and I think that’s one of the reasons why I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get her wins.” (Reuters)
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