FILE–Philippines’ Alexandra Eala returns the ball to Colombia’s Emiliana Arango, during their first round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

MANILA, Philippines — Despite an early exit in her women’s Grand Slam singles main draw debut, Alex Eala earned her first French Open win in the doubles division.

Eala and her Mexican partner Renata Zarazua fended off Emily Appleton of the United Kingdom and Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers of Spain, 7-5, 6-4, on Wednesday (Manila time) to advance to the second round of the Roland Garros.

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Eala and Zarazua survived a toe-to-toe opening set and brought the momentum to the second with a 3-1 start. However, Appleton and Reimers fought their way back and tied the set to 4-4.

Eala and Zarazua restored the order and won two consecutive games to end the match.

The Filipino-Mexican tandem battles Olga Danilovic of Serbia and Anastasia Potapova of Russia in the second round on Friday (Manila time).

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The Rafa Nadal Academy graduate, currently World No.73, had to undergo adjustments following her losing debut in the singles on Sunday to Emiliana Arango of Colombia, 0-6, 6-2, 3-6.

Originally, Eala and Zarazua were scheduled to face Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine and Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania, but the pair withdrew.

Kostyuk, who defeated Eala in the Italian Open first round earlier this month, also lost her Roland Garros singles opener, falling 3-6, 1-6 to Sara Bejlek. Ruse, meanwhile, advanced to the second round after a 7-5, 7-6(3) win over McCartney Kessler.