Alex Eala, Russian partner win French Open girls doubles crown
Top seeds Flag of PhilippinesAlexandra Eala and Flag of RussiaOksana Selekhmeteva are the girls’ doubles champions. ROLAND GARROS TWITTER
MANILA, Philipines-With some excellent net game and steely nerves, Alex Eala of the Philippines and Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia ruled the French Open girls doubles finals Saturday night.
The tandem, ranked first, defeated eighth seeds Maria Bondarenko of Russia and Amarissa Klara Toth of Hungary, 6-0 7-5, right on their second final appearance.
They handily bagged the first set only to see their opponents clawing back to take a 4-2 lead. But soon Eala and Selekhmeteva found their touch, pulling off volley smash to get out of tough bind.
🏆 Mission accomplie 🏆
👏 Les têtes de série Alexandra Eala et Oksana Selekhmeteva sont les championnes du double filles ! Elles s'imposent en finale face à Bondarenko/Toth 6-0, 7-5.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/OYbJYuxCFq
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 12, 2021
Fittingly it ended on Eala’s strong service game with Selekhmeteva hitting championship point by the net.
It showed the maturity of their partnership which had even proved its mettle when they made the finals of the W25 Platja D’Aro in Spain last month.
Together they dethroned defending champions Eleonora Alvisi and Lisa Pigato of Italy (6-2, 6-1) on Friday to make the finals.
That is after pulling off a squeaker over fifth seeds Petra Marcinko of Croaria and Natalia Szabanin of Hungary (7-6 (7), 7-6 (5), in the quarterfinals.
She and Indonesian Priska Nugroho captured the Australian Open girls doubles crown last year.
