Alex Eala and Nadiia Kichenok survived their 1st challenge in the Round of 16 of WTA 250 Guangzhou Open in China yesterday, October 23.
A Better Close Out Performance
The Eala-Kichenok tandem was facing the duo of Qianhui Tang and Emily Appleton.
Playing at the Nansha International Tennis Center, both pairs exchanged breaks in the opening set, keeping the contest even at 4-4.
Eala and Kichenok then seized control in the ninth game, breaking serve to go up 5-4 before holding firm in a tense tenth game to clinch the first set after 40 minutes. Appleton and Tang had two break-point chances to level the score, but the Filipino-Ukrainian duo’s solid defense and sharp returns denied them the opportunity.
FINAL SCORE OF SET 1: 6-4
In the second set, the fourth-seeded Appleton and Tang remained competitive early on, tying the score at 2-2.
But Eala and Kichenok quickly shifted momentum, holding their serves with ease and breaking twice more to take four straight games. Their aggressive net play and precise returns proved too much for their opponents, as they wrapped up the match in just over an hour.
FINAL SCORE OF SET 2: 6-2
The pair’s performance was defined by control and composure, especially on serve in which they held every service game without facing a single break point.
Appleton and Tang, meanwhile, struggled to maintain consistency, committing several costly errors, including three double faults.
The 1st Double’s Win for Eala since July 2025
Going all the way back in the previous Wimbledon Open last July 3, Eala and Eva Lys of Germany lost in the 1st Round of the Doubles Tournament.
Since then, the 20 year old tennis star from the Philippines didn’t compete in any doubles game for many months.
This win also extended her streak of success against Appleton, whom she had previously defeated at the French Open in May while paired with Renata Zarazua of Mexico.
For Kichenok, it was another statement performance after reaching the semifinals of the Japan Women’s Open with Makoto Ninomiya and winning the Prague Open title earlier this year.
This win also serves as a breather for Alex who got eliminated after losing in the Round of 32 Singles tournament of Guangzhou Open against Claire Liu last October 21.
Up Next: Quarterfinals vs Polina Kudermetova and Kamilla Rakhimova
The Filipina-Ukranian duo is now set to play against the Russian duo of Polina Kudermetova and Kamilla Rakhimova in the Quarterfinals.
The 22 year old Kudermetova is ranked No. 221 in the doubles while 24 year old Rakhimova is currently ranked No. 60.
They previously beat the duo of Camila Osorio (No. 182) and Yafan Wang (No. 299) in the Round of 16.
Eala-Kichenok vs Kudermetova-Rakhimova is set to play later in the afternoon, October 24 at 1:00 PM.
