Alex Eala gets praise from friend Victoria Mboko after Hong Kong Open thriller

Alexandra “Alex” Eala received kind words from her friend Victoria Mboko following their thrilling Round of 16 match at the Hong Kong Open on Thursday.

Mboko emerged victorious after completing a comeback win, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

“I want to first congratulate Alex for an amazing match. It's never easy to play one of your friends,” Mboko said in a post-match interview.

“I've known her for such a long time, so that made it a little bit emotional,” she added.

Mboko also thanked those who watched the match, even those who came to support Eala.

“I know there are so many Filipinos here who came to support Alex, and this is what this sport is all about. I love the support, you came today, and it made the match so much more intense and super tough for me,” she said.

“So I think I really had to fight for every single point. Yeah, I think it was just an unbelievable match.”

Mboko and Eala previously faced each other in the US Open Juniors semifinals back in 2022, where the Filipina prevailed, 6-1, 7-6.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News