Alexandra Eala and Iva Jovic knocked out two of the greats of the game with their 7-6 6-1 win over Venus Williams and Elina Svitolina at the ASB Classic on Monday.<\/p>\n
With four of the biggest names at this year\u2019s ASB Classic squaring off in a first round doubles match, it was billed as one of the highlights on the first day of action at Manuka Doctor Arena.<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t disappoint, with some thrilling tennis on display and plenty of jaw-dropping points.<\/p>\n
But the match came down to some gutsy play from Eala and Jovic who managed to save eight set points in the first set before clinching it 9-7 in the tiebreaker.<\/p>\n
Eala and Jovic didn\u2019t realise just how many set points they were able to save, but said afterwards that they were determined to keep fighting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just kept telling each other that we can do this, it’s not over,\u201d Jovic said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe kept repeating that to ourselves, and then we were very brave on the set point so that ended up paying off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spurred on by that, the Philippine and American players won the first four games of the second set, before Jovic was broken.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a great first set and you get the momentum after that,\u201d Eala said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it’s so easy to kind of crash, and I think we did a good job of keeping each other’s energy.<\/p>\n
The young duo won the next two games to secure a place in the quarterfinals and Jovic at last got a chance to put her feet up after a long day on Centre Court, having defeated Gabriela Knutson 4-6 6-1 6-0 at the start of the day.<\/p>\n
After losing a tight opening set, Jovic was pleased with how she played for the remainder of her singles match.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first set of the year is always tricky,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst match, feeling a little rusty, and my opponent, as a qualifier, she had her groove already, and she came out swinging.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I think I did a good job of resetting and bringing my energy up in the second [set] and then riding it through to the third. It’s never easy in those types of matches. So I’m glad to just get through it.\u201d<\/p>\n
In other singles matches on Monday during the day session seventh seed Wang Xinyu defeated Caty McNally 2-6 6-3 7-5, while No 8 seed Peyton Stearns lost 6-2 7-5 to Kaitlin Quevedo.<\/p>\n
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