Alex Eala, Venus Williams bow out to Liudmila Samsonova, Miyu Kato in Canadian Open doubles match
Alex Eala and Venus Williams fell to Liudmila Samsonova and Miyu Kato in their Round of 32 doubles match at the 2026 Canadian Open.
World No. 20 Eala and former World No. 1 Williams, who both entered the doubles draw as wild card entries, dropped both sets 6–4, 6–3 Friday morning, Aug. 7 (Philippine time).
Kato and Samsonova were relentless all throughout the match, quickly setting up a 2–0 lead in the opening set, eventually gaining 4–2. Although Eala and Williams rallied to level up, their opponents, who each have a doubles title under their belts, regained control.
The second set was more of the same, with Kato and Samsonova gaining a 4–0 lead before Eala and Williams got to score. The latter duo claimed a game before eventually falling to their opponents.
This was the third time Eala, 21, and Williams, 46, teamed up in a doubles match.
They first partnered up at the 2026 Bad Homburg Open in Germany, where they claimed a straight set 6–3, 6–4 win against Alexandra Osborne and Catherine Harrison in the Round of 16 on June 24.
Their Bad Homburg run fell short, however, in the doubles quarterfinal the next day, when they went against second-seeded duo Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls. Eala and Williams bowed out with 3–6, 2–6.
The Filipina and American tennis stars were supposed to pair up again in the women's doubles at the recently concluded Mubadala DC Open. Days before their match, though, Eala dropped out of the doubles draw and Williams was re-paired with Diana Shnaider.
"We had a great time playing at Bad Homburg so we were looking forward to playing again," Williams remarked during a pre-tournament press conference on July 26. "Didn't work out this time. Would love for there to be future times. We'll see what happens."
A day later, Eala explained her last-minute withdrawal from the doubles draw.
"I have so much respect for Venus. I am so grateful for every opportunity that I have to be around her, to learn from her, to hit with her," Eala said during a pre-tournament press conference on July 27.
"But I do think this is my first week coming back, and I think that Venus is someone who deserves a partner who can give their all physically, emotionally, mentally when they're on court with her," Eala continued.
The Filipina went on to win the final against Jessica Pegula, earning for Eala her first WTA singles title.
Eala then debuted in the singles draw of the 2026 Canadian Open, or the National Bank Open, with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 win over Alycia Parks in the Round of 64. Her next match is against Caty McNally in the Round of 32 on Saturday, Aug. 8 at around 12 a.m. (Philippine time).
