She has her spot 🤙
Diana Shnaider comes through stern opposition in Eala and steps into the Final 8 in Ningbo!
#NingboOpen https://t.co/e5s1trfZDN
— wta (@WTA) October 22, 2026
Diana Shnaider beat Alex Eala 7-5, 6-4 in the round of 16 of the 2026 Ningbo Open, ending the Filipina’s run in China. It was their first tour-level meeting.
Shnaider broke first to lead 5-4 in the opening set. Eala broke back to level at 5-5, but Shnaider broke again and held to take the set. The second set stayed tight until 4-4, when Shnaider pulled away.
Eala refused to go quietly, forcing Shnaider to save seven match points in a final game that lasted about ten minutes. The Russian finally closed it out and will face American Iva Jovic in the quarterfinals.
Despite the loss, Eala pushed the world No. 13 through a tense match that lasted just under two hours.
