Alex Eala exits early again in first-round loss to Han Shi at Wuhan Open

Alex Eala absorbed yet another early exit, this time in the WTA1000 Wuhan Open after a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 loss to hometown bet Han Shi of China in the Round of 64 on Monday at the Dongfeng Voyah Center Court.

Eala also exited early in the Singapore Tennis Open a few weeks ago after falling short against Tatiana Prozorova, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6 in the Round of 16.

The Filipina and Chinese bets traded games in the opening set to reach a 4-all deadlock before Eala took the next two to draw first blood.

Shi then bounced back in Set 2 to force a decider, but the Pinay star could not regain control in the third as the Chinese bet pulled off a major upset against the world No. 19 Eala and probably the biggest victory of her young career.

From qualifying to Round 2 🌟 Shi Han fights to a big win against Eala, her first Top 20 victory! #dongfengvoyahwuhanopen https://t.co/8R9UeaBtK2

— wta (@WTA) October 12, 2026

The 21-year-old Shi will face Canada's Leylah Fernandez in the Round of 32 as she continues her dream run.

Returning to hardcourt action after her semifinal loss at the Asian Games, Eala struggled to pull away from Shi early in the opening set, with the Chinese bet forcing a 4-all deadlock. The Filipina ace eventually prevailed in a 12-minute ninth game, fending off the challenge through three advantage points before sealing the set with a crosscourt backhand winner.

But the momentum quickly swung in Shi’s favor as Eala hit a rough patch by surrendering seven straight games. The Chinese bet overturned a 3-2 deficit to snatch the second set, 6-4, then carried her surge into the decider by racing to a 3-0 lead.

Eala came back by seizing two of the next three games to stay alive, but Shi torched Eala with her strong serves by claiming back-to-back aces and forcing the Filipina into a return error to claim a comfortable 5-2 lead.

Eala captured the next game to extend the match, but Shi once again leaned on her heavy serves to seal the upset as the Filipina sent her backhand return wide on match point.

—JMB, GMA News