'No regrets' for Alex Eala as she begins Hong Kong Open campaign

HONG KONG — Philippine tennis star Alexandra Eala is wrapping up her 2026 season with no regrets as she sets her sights on a strong finish at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open.

Currently ranked World No. 17 and seeded second in the tournament, Eala will begin her campaign on Tuesday, November 3, with a first-round clash against American Alycia Parks.

During a press conference on Sunday, November 1, Eala expressed her excitement about returning to Hong Kong, recalling fond memories of the crowd and the warm hospitality of the tournament organizers.

Eala's 2025 campaign ended in the second round after she fell to eventual champion Victoria Mboko of Canada in a three-set battle, 6-3, 3-6, 4-6.

“I couldn't be happier to be back. I'm super proud of this whole year, even the past couple of weeks, how I've been working, how I've been training. Super proud of that, and I think, you know, coming into the last tournament of the season with no regrets,” the 21-year-old said during the press conference.

Prior to arriving in Hong Kong, she reached the quarterfinals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan, where she lost to eventual champion Diana Shnaider.

As she prepares for her final tournament of the season, Eala remains focused on finishing the year on a positive note.

“I think I've done everything that I could have possibly done. I'm super happy with whatever happens,” Eala said.

Her opening-round encounter against Parks will mark the pair's third meeting on the professional tour with their head-to-head record tied at 1-1.

Parks defeated Eala in the first round of the Australian Open in January 2026, before the Filipina avenged the loss at the Toronto Open in August.

The Hong Kong Open runs from November 2 to 8 at the Victoria Park Tennis Stadium.

Romania's Sorana Cîrstea, ranked World No. 16, leads the field as the tournament's top seed.

Canada's Leylah Fernandez, fresh from finishing runner-up at the Tokyo Open, is seeded third. Greece's Maria Sakkari and Australia's Talia Gibson occupy the fourth and fifth seeds, respectively.

Rounding out the seeded players are China's Wang Xinyu, Russia's Liudmila Samsonova, and Britain's Katie Boulter.

Tennis legend and 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams was also among the tournament's wild-card entries, though she lost in the first round to fellow American Mary Stoiana in the evening session on Centre Court on Day 1.

—JMB, GMA News