Alex Eala and Czech partner Nikola Bartunkova exited the WTA 125 Birmingham Open doubles event Monday night after a narrow 4-6, 6-2, 9-11 loss to Britain’s Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden.

Eala and Bartunkova surged to a 4-0 lead in the opening set but dropped six straight games as Dart and Lumsden completed a comeback.

The Filipina-Czech pair responded with a dominant 6-2 second set to force a deciding match tiebreak.

The final frame went down to the wire, with the British duo edging the contest, 11-9.

Despite the defeat, Eala and Bartunkova held slight statistical advantages, including total points won, 62-59, and break-point conversions, 4-of-6 against 3-of-6.

Dart and Lumsden, however, capitalized on a higher first-serve percentage and delivered in the decisive moments.

Eala now shifts focus to the singles draw, where the top seed will face Australia’s Priscilla Hon in the Round of 32.