Closing her eventful season on tour.
It was once again an action-packed day at the Hong Kong Open for Filipina tennis star Alex Eala on Sunday, November 8.
And it was not just like any other day as she faced a familiar foe in American netter Claire Liu, whom she previously faced in Guangzhou back in 2025 in the finals of the WTA 250 tournament.
In the opening set, it was already an intense match between both players, with the two having a 3-all score. During which, Eala also called for a medical timeout, before Liu eventually took hold of the remaining games.
In the succeeding set, Alex, who has her right knee tape, struggled to find footing and finished scoreless in the second half of their match—ultimately allowing Claire to win the title 3-6, 0-6.
After the game, the Filipina, who was hailed the runner-up, displayed sportsman-like behavior by congratulating her opponent on this victory.
“First and foremost, I want to congratulate Claire on an amazing tournament, a great week and a great match. Very, very well-deserved congratulations,” said Eala.
In her post-game interview, the current world no. 17 also expressed how much the season, which she wraps up with this strong finish.
“This season… changed my life. It changed my life for the better. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve put in this year,” she said. “And we’re the only ones who truly know what it took to arrive to this point in our journey.”
She also dedicated her latest feat to the fans who came to support her.
“Thank you so, so much, congratulations. This is only the beginning. And this one, like all of them, is ours,” the tennis star added.
This year, Alex made strides by winning two trophies at the DC Open and Birmingham Open.
Moreover, she also made historic feats at two Grand Slam events, which are the Wimbledon Championships in the United Kingdom and the US Open.
