Alex Eala and Venus Williams bowed out of the National Bank Open women’s doubles tournament after falling to the tandem of Liudmila Samsonova and Miyu Kato, 6-4, 6-3, in the Round of 32 on Friday, Aug. 7 (PH time).

The Eala-Williams pair battled back in the opening set, staying level with Samsonova and Kato at 4-4 before the Russian-Japanese duo regained control and closed out the set, 6-4.

Samsonova and Kato carried the momentum into the second set, racing to a 4-0 lead. Eala and Williams managed to cut the deficit to 4-2, but the Russian-Japanese tandem held firm to complete the victory with a 6-3 second-set win.

The defeat ended Williams’ return to Toronto, following her singles exit in the Round of 128 after a loss to Kamilla Rakhimova last Monday.

Eala, meanwhile, remains in contention in the singles draw and will return to center court on Saturday morning (PH time) to face Caty McNally in the third round.