Alex Eala finds new doubles partner in Ukrainian Nadiia Kichenok for Guangzhou Open

Filipino tennis star Alex Eala will look to break out of her recent slump as she teams up with veteran Nadiia Kichenok from Ukraine for doubles action in the Guangzhou Open in China.

Eala will pull double duties as she is set to compete in the women’s singles and doubles events after disappointing finishes in the Japan Women’s Open, Suzhou Open, and Jingshan Open.

Kichenok is an experienced Ukrainian tennis player who has been to the quarterfinals of the Olympics and multiple Grand Slams, while reaching as high as No. 29 in the doubles rankings in 2022.

The pair will face the fourth-seeded duo of world No. 80 Emily Appleton and No. 78 in the first round on Tuesday, Oct 21. 

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SHE IS NOW WORLD NO. 53 🙌🏻

Alex Eala soared to a new career-best ranking in the Women’s Tennis Association ahead of the resumption of her campaign in the WTA250 Guangzhou Open starting Tuesday.

Read: https://t.co/wTvkA4tT0z pic.twitter.com/CH9pADRJ3h

— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) October 20, 2025

Tang is an experienced doubles player with three doubles titles in her belt, while Appleton has won one WTA and 20 ITF doubles titles to her name.

Eala is ranked No. 204 in the WTA doubles rankings and last competed at the Wimbledon Championships last July, when she teamed up with Germany’s Eva Lys but fell in the first round to Ingrid Martins and Quinn Gleason.

The 20-year-old last competed in the Japan Open, where she suffered an early exit at the hands of fellow rising star Tereza Valentova in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1, on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Despite the early exit, Eala rose to her career best in the WTA rankings from No. 54 to No. 53.

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