Venus Williams reunites with Alexandra Eala as DC Open doubles partnership confirmed
WTASaturday, 18 July 2026 at 03:30
Venus Williams and Alexandra Eala will join forces once again after their encouraging partnership on grass, with the pair confirmed in the doubles draw for the 2026 Mubadala DC Open in Washington.
The tournament announced that the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and the rising Filipino star will reunite just weeks after reaching the quarterfinals together at Bad Homburg, where they played their first tournament as a team. Both players are also entered in the singles draw as they continue their preparations for the North American hard-court swing.
The reunion comes at an important stage of the season for both players. Williams has steadily built momentum since returning to competition earlier this year, while Eala arrives in Washington after the biggest breakthrough of her career, having reached the second week of Wimbledon for the first time and climbed to a career-high world No. 28.
Washington has already brought success for Williams in doubles. Last season, the American reached the quarterfinals alongside fellow American Hailey Baptiste, and she will now look to go even further with one of the fastest-rising players on the WTA Tour.
Williams and Eala continue promising partnership
The pairing first caught attention during the grass-court season in Bad Homburg, where Williams and Eala immediately found chemistry despite having never previously competed together. They advanced to the quarterfinals before their run came to an end, encouraging both players to reunite for the hard-court season.
For Williams, the doubles event represents another opportunity to gain competitive matches as she continues her comeback. The 46-year-old owns one of the greatest doubles careers in tennis history, lifting 22 WTA doubles titles, including 14 Grand Slam trophies alongside her sister Serena Williams.
Alexandra Eala and Venus Williams at Bad Homburg Open
The legendary sisters completed the Career Grand Slam in doubles, winning every major at least twice, while also capturing three Olympic gold medals together.
Eala, meanwhile, continues to establish herself among the WTA's elite after a remarkable 2026 campaign. The 21-year-old claimed the biggest title of her career at the Birmingham WTA 125 before reaching the semifinals in Berlin and producing one of Wimbledon’s biggest surprises by defeating former champion Iga Swiatek on her way to the fourth round.
Strong doubles and singles fields in Washington
Williams and Eala will face strong competition in Washington. The top-seeded doubles team features Sara Errani, a 10-time Grand Slam champion across doubles and mixed doubles, partnering former Wimbledon mixed doubles champion Nicole Melichar-Martinez.
Defending doubles champion Zhang Shuai also returns to the tournament, this time teaming up with Indonesia's Janice Tjen.
The singles event is equally loaded, with world No. 3 Jessica Pegula leading the field alongside Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, Naomi Osaka, Jasmine Paolini, Diana Shnaider and Madison Keys.
With both Williams and Eala competing in singles and doubles, Washington offers another opportunity for the pair to strengthen a partnership that has quickly become one of the most intriguing combinations on the WTA Tour ahead of the US Open swing.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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