Alexandra ‘Alex’ Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime were simply ovematched by the husband-and-wife tandem of Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils as the two hopefuls made a quick exit from the US Open mixed doubles.
Eala and Auger-Aliassime lost comprehensively as their rivals needed just 39 minutes to claim a 4-1, 4-1 win over the first-time pairing of the 21-year-old Filipina and the world’s number 4 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York. advance to the quarterfinals.
The tournament features a unique format, with pairs needing just four points to win a set.
Eala and Auger-Aliassime began their game plan brightly, as the Canadian ace held serve for a 1-0 lead. From there, however, wildcards Monfils and Svitolina took over, winning four straight games to take the opener.
Errors proved costly for Eala and Auger-Aliassime, with the latter committing two double faults in the fifth game to clinch the set for their opponents.
The pairs traded holds in the first three games of the second set, before an error-strewn fourth game by Eala and Auger-Aliassime handed Monfils and Svitolina a lead that they would not relinquish.
A forehand winner by Monfils gave their tandem two match points, before a rare error by Svitolina temporarily stalled their march. But Auger-Aliassime sent a return to the net, wrapping up their campaign in quick fashion.
“I’m very happy to play finally with Gael,” world No. 9 Svitolina enthused after the doubles matchup.
“It’s nice to share the court together. We were trying to be really focused, but also to have fun,” she added. Her French husband is playing in his final Grand Slam before he retires at the end of the season.
In the meantime, the country’s pride will return to the hardcourt later today when she faces American rising star Iva Jovic in the Stars of the Open exhibition at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The showcase, which begins at 6 p.m. New York time, features Eala, Jovic, João Fonseca, Learner Tien, Arthur Fils, Amanda Anisimova, Alex Michelsen and Marta Kostyuk.