Alex Eala’s Mutua Madrid Open stint in both Singles and Doubles has officially come to an end. This after she and Zeynep Sönmez were crushed, 6-1, 7-5, by Grand Slam Doubles champions Kateřina Siniaková and Taylor Townsend in their Round of 16 clash on Saturday evening.
Eala and Sönmez struggled to match the early intensity of their opponents. Townsend and Siniaková, both former world No. 1s in Doubles, came out firing as they broke early and raced to a dominant 5-1 lead in the opening set.
The Filipino-Turkish pair managed just one hold, as the second seeds of the tournament controlled the tempo with sharp net play, powerful serving, and clinical finishing.
A well-executed drop shot from Siniaková sealed a one-sided first set in just seven games.
Fightback Falls Short for Alex Eala, Zeynep Sönmez
The second set told a different story.
After falling behind 1-3 once again, Eala and Sönmez dug deep, finding rhythm on return and stringing together three straight games to take a 4-3 lead—their first advantage of the match. Their improved energy and chemistry were evident as they began to challenge the seasoned pair in longer rallies.
The duo even moved within a point of forcing a decider, holding a set point at 5-4. But just as momentum seemed to shift, Townsend and Siniaková showcased their championship experience.
They broke back to level at 5-5, then surged through the final two games. Townsend delivered back-to-back smashes in the closing moments to seal the straight-sets victory after 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Championship Pedigree over Youth
The match ultimately highlighted the gap in experience—it overpowered youth.
Townsend and Siniaková, fresh off titles at Indian Wells and Miami, handled pressure moments better as they won the last three games of the match and denied Eala and Sönmez a chance to extend the contest.
Alex Eala Now Focuses on Italian Open
With her Madrid campaign officially over in both Singles and Doubles, Alex Eala now shifts her focus to the WTA 1000 Italian Open starting on May 5.
