Alex Eala’s stint in the Guangzhou Open came to an end Saturday after she and Nadiia Kichenok of Ukraine suffered a heartbreaking 7-6, 3-6, 5-10 loss to Janice Tjen of Indonesia and Katarzyna Piter of Poland in the semifinal in China.

It’s the second time the 20-year-old Eala lost to Tjen, suffering a 1-6, 4-6 loss in the quarterfinal of the Sao Paulo Open singles play in Brazil last September.

Still, Eala and Kichenok did what they could as they swept their opponents on their way to the semis.

First, the Filipino-Ukrainian duo pulled off a 6-4, 6-2 sweep over Emily Appleton of Great Britain and home bet Qianhui Tang in the Round of 16. 

Then, Eala and Kichenok posted a 6-3, 7-5 win over the Russian pair of Polina Kudermetova and Kamilla Rakhimova in the quarterfinal.

Eala had a better run in the doubles compared to her singles run in the Guangzhou Open after a 6-2, 4-6, 4-6 loss to Claire Liu of the United States in the Round of 32 last Tuesday.