Alex Eala looks to showcase yearlong growth in Hong Kong Tennis Open final

HONG KONG — Alexandra Eala advanced to the singles final of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open after a grueling three-set victory over Greece’s Maria Sakkari in a semifinal match repeatedly interrupted by rain delays.

Eala secured a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory, describing the semifinal as an “incredibly challenging match” that required immense patience and focus.

In the November 8 final, Eala will face American Claire Liu, whom she previously encountered at the Guangzhou Open in October 2025.

She fell to Liu in three sets (2–6, 6–4, 6–4) in the first round of that tournament.

Looking ahead to the rematch, Eala said it would be another opportunity to apply the lessons she had learned over the past year and further improve her game.

“I've grown a lot in the past year, so it's a good way for me to see how I can improve and how I can be better from our last match,” she said during a press conference.

Following her semifinal victory over Sakkari, Eala climbed to a career-high No. 15 in the WTA live rankings. She started the 2026 season at No. 50.

Reflecting on her stellar professional season alongside a bronze medal finish at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Eala shared what representing the Philippines means to her at this stage of her career.

“I think it means to do my best every day to represent the Philippines in the best way that I possibly can. I try every day to show the best of us, Filipinos, to the best of my ability, and also to show everybody watching that there's so much to be proud of when it comes to being Filipino,” she said.

“I grow prouder with every match that I see people come out to support and show their love for me. So, I really want to take every opportunity I can to give back to them.”

Rain delay

Asked how she handled the stop-and-start rhythm caused by the weather, Eala said rain interruptions were not unusual on the professional tour and required mental resilience.

“The rain delays today were very interesting because it would come back very quickly, so we would play only a few points and then rain again. But it's not something unheard of on tour. At this level, we have a certain amount of experience with that,” Eala said.

The semifinal match between Alexandra Eala and Maria Sakkari was interrupted several times by rain. Photo: Cris Evert Lato-Ruffolo

She said staying focused on every point and maintaining a positive mindset allowed her to sustain her intensity while enjoying the match.

With her second WTA Tour title within reach, Eala said she was choosing to stay present and draw on the momentum and tactical improvements she had gained from her successful run in Washington, D.C., and throughout the year.

“[I will] try to cap it off with a good match. Win or lose, I'm really happy. So, [I'm] going to try to be positive going into the final,” she said. —VBL, GMA News