By Emily “Le Blanc” Blanco
MANILA — Alex Eala stood only a few points away from a breakthrough final, but fate—and a fearless opponent—had other plans.
The Filipina tennis prodigy saw her inspiring ASB Classic campaign end in a painful three-set semifinal loss to China’s Wang Xinyu, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4, after a marathon battle that tested both skill and nerve.
Eala refused to yield from the very beginning. Down 1-5 in the first set, she mounted a stunning comeback, chasing down every ball and dictating play with fearless shot-making to steal the set and seize control of the match.
The turning point came in the second set, where Eala held a 5-3 advantage and stood one point from victory. A forehand sailed long, and with it went the momentum. Wang pounced, clawing her way back into the contest and forcing a decider.
In the final set, Eala continued to fight, matching Wang rally for rally, but the emotional and physical toll of the missed opportunity proved costly. Wang eventually edged ahead, closing out the match after nearly three hours of relentless tennis.
Though the result stung, Eala left Auckland having proven she belongs on the biggest stages, her courage and competitiveness earning admiration and signaling brighter days ahead for Philippine tennis. /ia
