Alex Eala and her French partner Estelle Cascino, orchestrated a stunning upset at the W75 International Tennis Federation (ITF) Croissy-Beaubourg tournament in France.
The unseeded duo outplayed their top-seeded opponents, Great Britain’s Maia Lumsden and France’s own Jessika Ponchetto, 7-5, 7-6 (4), and clinched the coveted doubles title on Saturday.
For Eala, the triumph marked her second ITF doubles title, following her earlier success at the W50 Pune in India alongside Latvian partner Darja Semenistaja.
Cascino, with her extensive experience and a formidable ranking of No. 146 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) doubles, added another accolade to her impressive tally, claiming her 23rd doubles crown.
Their path to victory was anything but easy.
Eala and Cascino weathered tough challenges throughout the tournament, displaying grit and determination in each match.
From a hard-fought battle against Swiss Celine Naef and Indian Prarthana G. Thombare in the opening round to dominant performances against formidable opponents like British Emily Appleton and Dutch Isabelle Haverlag, as well as Kira Pavlova and Luxembourg’s Marie Weckerie, the duo navigated through the competition with finesse and flair.
Though Eala’s singles campaign ended in the second round with a loss to Germany’s Mona Barthel, their triumph in the doubles event served as a testament to their resilience.
The victory not only adds another accolade to their impressive resumes but is also poised to elevate Eala’s doubles ranking.
Currently ranked at No. 305, Eala’s ascent in the rankings reflects her growing prowess and potential as a doubles specialist, with her recent career-high ranking of No. 278 earlier in the month.
