Filipino tennis star Alexandra Eala ended her 2026 season as runner-up at the Hong Kong Tennis Open, falling to American Claire Liu in the final match.
Filipino tennis sensation Alexandra “Alex” Eala fell short of securing her second WTA title after losing decisively to Claire Liu, ranked world No. 102, in the final of the Hong Kong Tennis Open on November 8, 2026. The match ended 3-6, 0-6 in favor of Liu, marking the conclusion of Eala’s final tournament of the season.
The opening set saw a tight contest, with both players trading games until Eala took a medical timeout at 3-4 due to a taped right knee. Following this, Liu clinched the last two games to capture the set. Liu maintained dominance in the second set, converting seven critical points over a 26-minute period, eventually winning five consecutive games to seal the match emphatically.
This marks the second time Liu defeated Eala, having previously prevailed in the 2025 Guangzhou Open Round of 32 encounter. Liu made history as the first American woman to win the Hong Kong Open, demonstrating exceptional serving and returning skills throughout the week.
Despite the loss, the 21-year-old Eala, currently ranked world No. 17, expressed gratitude for her successful campaign in 2026. The season saw Eala achieve multiple career milestones including her first WTA 500 title at the Mubadala Citi DC Open and a second WTA 125 title at the Birmingham Open.
Eala dedicated thanks to her team, family, coaches, tournament staff, and fans for their unwavering support. She described the year as life-changing and expressed pride in the hard work that brought her to this point. Though the trophy eluded her this time, Eala remains optimistic about her future, emphasizing that this is only the beginning of her journey as a professional tennis player.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/balitambayan/balita/1008763/alex-eala-runner-up-sa-hk-tennis-open-matapos-mabigo-sa-world-no-102-na-si-claire-liu/story/