MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala credited her friendship off the court with Russian teammate Oksana Selekhmeteva as the key factor in their magnificent French Open girls’ doubles championship.
“Good partners, but better friends, Oksana,” the Filipina pride beamed after their title run completed without surrendering a single set through five rounds.
“(It) didn’t go my way in singles but (I’m) beyond proud to say we won the (doubles) title. Happy Independence Day,” she added as they won the championship during the celebration of the 123rd Philippine Independence Day.
Eala, 16 and Selekhmeteva, 18, capped off their Paris domination with a 6-0, 7-5 win over Russia’s Maria Bondarenko and Hungary’s Amarissa Kiara Toth for their second juniors doubles Grand Slam crown.