Alex Eala and Shaira Rivera began their women’s doubles campaign at the 20th Asian Games with a convincing 6‑1, 6‑3 victory over Hong Kong’s Lai Ching Laam and Kallista Liu on Tuesday evening.
Playing together for the first time, Eala and Rivera showed little difficulty developing their rhythm despite another weather disruption. Continuous rain forced organizers to move the match indoors and pushed the Filipino pair’s schedule into the evening. The delay did little to affect the Filipinas, who quickly settled into the contest after dropping the opening game.
Rivera initially committed an attacking error that allowed Hong Kong to take the early lead, but the 27‑year‑old quickly responded. She produced a forehand winner in the succeeding exchanges as Eala and Rivera began taking control of the rallies.
Alex Eala, Shaira Rivera Dominate First Set Against Hong Kong
After conceding the opening game, Eala and Rivera completely turned the momentum around.
The Filipinas captured the next six games to close out the opening set, 6‑1, in just 33 minutes. Eala dictated play with powerful forehand returns and topspin shots, while Rivera contributed with timely net play and aggressive volleys.
Eala’s backhand created an advantage point in the seventh game before a strong Rivera return proved too difficult for the Hong Kong pair to handle, allowing the Filipinas to seal the first set.
Despite being first‑time partners, the chemistry between Eala and Rivera continued to improve as the match progressed.
Hong Kong Shows Resistance in Second Set
Lai and Liu offered considerably more resistance in the second set.
Eala and Rivera established an early advantage, but Hong Kong managed to level the set at 2‑2 after surviving an extended fourth game. The tighter exchanges forced the Filipinas to remain patient as the Hong Kong duo attempted to regain control.
The Philippine pair responded by winning four of the next five games. Rivera came up with a loaded serve that forced Lai into a return error, giving the Filipinas a 5‑2 advantage and putting them within reach of victory.
Hong Kong refused to go quietly, however. Liu struck consecutive forehand winners before an error from Rivera allowed the pair to claim the eighth game and cut the deficit to 5‑3.
Philippines Seals Win, to Face China Next
With the match still within Hong Kong’s reach, Eala and Rivera immediately regained their composure.
Alex Eala produced a powerful backhand during the ninth game before Rivera finished the match at the net with the winning shot, completing the contest in one hour and 17 minutes.
The result sends the first‑time Filipino tandem into the second round of the women’s doubles tournament, keeping their medal hopes alive. They are the second Filipino pair to make it to the second round after Tenny Madis and Stefi Aludo did the same on Monday. However, they lost on Wednesday morning to Hao-Ching Chan and Fang-hsien Wu of Chinese Taipei, 6-3, 6-1.
Their next challenge will be significantly tougher as they face China’s third‑seeded Jiang Xinyu and Yang Zhaoxuan. The Chinese duo received a first‑round bye, with Jiang ranked No. 22 in the world in doubles and having reached the Wimbledon semifinals. Yang owns a career‑high doubles ranking of No. 9 and has also reached the French Open semifinals.
Alex Eala Next Matches
Tournament: 20th Asian Games
Event: Singles – Quarterfinals
Match: Alex Eala vs. Joanna Garland
Date: September 30 (Wednesday)
Time: 12:30 p.m. (Estimated time only, subject to change.)
Tournament: 20th Asian Games
Event: Doubles – Second Round
Match: Alex Eala and Shaira Hope Rivera vs. Jiang Xinyu and Yang Zhaoxuan
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
