Alexandra Eala and Shaira Hope Rivera opened their women’s doubles campaign at the 2026 Asian Games with a straight-set victory over Hong Kong, China’s Lai Ching Laam and Kallista Liu, 6-1, 6-3, on Tuesday at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Japan.
The Philippine pair controlled the match from the outset, breaking away early in the opening set before maintaining their advantage to take it in just seven games.
Eala and Rivera carried the momentum into the second set, where they again established control and secured another break to complete the victory in two sets.
The Filipina tandem won 63 total points against 42 for their opponents and were particularly effective on serve, winning 70 pecent of their first-serve points and 82 percent of their second-serve points.
Eala and Rivera also converted four of their 10 break-point opportunities while limiting their opponents to no break-point conversions.
The victory sent the Philippine tandem through to the next round of the women’s doubles competition as they continued the country’s campaign in Nagoya. (Adrian Co)
