Wimbledon warm-up ends: Venus Williams and Alexandra Eala crash out in Bad Homburg doubles
WTAThursday, 25 June 2026 at 18:10
Venus Williams and Alexandra Eala said goodbye to the Bad Homburg Open this Thursday in the quarter-finals, after being defeated by second seeds Olivia Nicholls and Tereza Mihalíková in a straight-sets match (6–3, 6–2).
Former World No. 1 Venus Williams returned to the courts this week for her first tournament appearance since late April. This time, she partnered with Eala as part of her preparation for Wimbledon, where she will reunite with her sister Serena Williams for their first tournament together in four years.
Williams and Eala — a duo with a 25-year age gap — began their run in the tournament just a day earlier, securing a strong first-round victory against Catherine Harrison and Alexandra Osborne. The pair returned to court on Thursday, this time on Centre Court, to challenge the second seeds, but were ultimately eliminated and bid farewell to Bad Homburg.
Both players also entered the singles main draw, although both were eliminated in the first round. Eala fell to Elise Mertens (3–6, 3–6), while Venus lost a marathon battle against Irina-Camelia Begu (2–6, 6–4, 6–7). Both now turn their attention fully to Wimbledon.
Eala & Venus heading into Wimbledon
Alexandra Eala arrives at Wimbledon carrying strong momentum after a breakthrough clay-to-grass transition over recent weeks. The Filipina reached the semi-finals at the WTA 500 Berlin Open in women’s singles, a result that reinforced her growing consistency at tour level. Earlier in June, she also lifted the WTA 125 Birmingham Open title, adding a second trophy that underlined her rapid progress on grass.
Winner Alexandra Eala of the Philippines holds the Maude Watson trophy during the Lexus Birmingham Open
Her results across both tournaments reflect a player increasingly comfortable adapting her game to faster surfaces. The Berlin semi-final run, in particular, highlighted her ability to compete against higher-ranked opposition in pressure moments, also recording two top-10 wins along the way (Elena Rybakina and Elina Svitolina).
Eala will enter Wimbledon as a seeded player, while also competing in doubles. She is scheduled to partner Czech youngster Nikola Bartunkova, one of the breakout names of the recent grass swing after pushing Aryna Sabalenka to the limit in Berlin and breaking into the top 50 at just 20 years old.
On the other side, Venus Williams will have her anticipated reunion with her sister Serena Williams, with whom she has won a total of 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles, including six at Wimbledon. It will mark Serena’s return to a Grand Slam, where she also received a wildcard into the singles main draw.
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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mandoist25-06-2026 - This way she can continue her part-time unserious nonsense, withdraw from Wimbledon if it's too hot... and still keep her Sponsor$ Stop wasting everyone's time.mandoist25-06-2026
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- Sickening, Unfair, and Pathetic. BTW: Any "history" made is in the past. Returning from faux retirement your "hstory" starts over -- you don't just pickup where you left off. Shameful to see someone need the spotlight so bad she is happy to steal Wildcardsmandoist22-06-2026
- Diana's emotions and reactions prove her dedication and extreme drive to succeed. Her workouts are as strenuous as any of her peers. Just as driven on the practice courts. Her priorities to tennis are obvious, unlike several others. A fierce competitor should be allowed his/her honest emotional displays without having to answer for them. I submit the media weasels 'Think Before They Speak' at pressers.mandoist19-06-2026
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