Elina Svitolina and Venus Williams showed some flashes of brilliance on the court together but ultimately picked up a 6-7 (7) 1-6 Auckland loss to Alexandra Eala and Iva Jovic.
This Monday, the 31-year-old Ukrainian and the 45-year-old American played doubles together for the first time after being given a main draw wildcard for the ASB Classic.
Svitolina and Williams made a slow start to the match after getting broken early, but recovered to take a 5-3 lead. Sadly for the Ukrainian/American duo, they failed to close out the first set after not managing to serve out for it in the ninth game and then also missing out on a total of six set points across the 10th and 12th games.
After blowing six set points, Svitolina and Williams still had a chance to take the opener since they clinched two more set points in the tie-break. But once again, they failed to convert as Eala, 20, and 18-year-old Jovic stole the first set by realizing their first set point.
From that moment on, it was all Eala and Jovic as the Filipino/American pair claimed three breaks in the second set to complete the job in straight sets.
What Williams said about playing doubles with Svitolina?
“I’m playing doubles with Elina Svitolina – we’ve always been opponents, but finally we’re on the same team. And I hope Serena won’t be jealous. If there’s one thing she’s going to do, she’s going to compete. So neither of us play doubles every day, but I think we’ll both bring our singles game together and make it work," the 45-year-old said in her pre-tournament Auckland press conference.
Now that Williams and Svitolina are out of the Auckland doubles event, they can fully focus on their respective singles campaigns.
Williams plays against Magda Linette in her Auckland singles opener, while No. 1 seed Svitolina meets Varvara Gracheva.
