By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Alexandra Eala and Brazilian partner Ingrid Martins exited the Australian Open women’s doubles competition after a hard-fought first-round loss to the team of Magda Linette of Poland and Shuko Aoyama of Japan in Melbourne, Australia on Tuesday, January 20.

Eala and Martins dropped the opening set, 6-7, before responding strongly to take the second set, 6-2.

However, Linette and Aoyama regrouped in the deciding set and pulled away for a 6-3 victory to seal the match.

The contest was closely fought statistically, with both teams winning 15 games apiece.

Linette and Aoyama edged Eala and Martins in total points won, 116-108, and also held a slight advantage in receiving points, 55-53.

Service efficiency proved to be a key factor, as the Linette-Aoyama pairing won 61 service points compared to 55 by Eala and Martins.

The Polish-Japanese tandem also performed better on second serve, winning 62 percent of points, while Eala and Martins managed 45 percent.

Both teams converted six break points, but Linette and Aoyama did so in fewer opportunities, going 6-of-13, compared to Eala and Martins’ 6-of-19.

The eventual winners also claimed the lone tiebreak of the match.

Despite the loss, Eala and Martins posted a higher first-serve percentage at 80 percent, compared to 65 percent by their opponents, while committing fewer double faults, two against six.

The doubles defeat capped a difficult Australian Open campaign for Eala, who also bowed out of the women’s singles event after a first-round loss to American Alycia Parks on Monday, January 19./ASC, WDJ