Filipina tennis star Alexandra “Alex” Eala continues her sensational run on the WTA Tour, securing a spot in the final of the 2026 Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open after two gritty, hard-fought victories. The 21-year-old No. 2 seed showed composure and tactical maturity under pressure to earn a shot at her second career WTA title.
Eala’s path to the final:
- Quarterfinal: Eala def. Antonia Ruzic (Croatia), 7-6(7), 7-5
Eala needed two hours and 33 minutes and survived a rain delay. She narrowly took the opening set in a tiebreak, then stayed focused through the weather interruption in the second set, delivering crucial points when they mattered most to seal the win.
- Semifinal: Eala def. Maria Sakkari (Greece), 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
The world No. 17 beat the former world No. 3 in three sets. Eala recovered from 4-5 down in the opening set, winning three straight games to take it 7-5. Sakkari responded in the second set, taking an early lead and winning it 6-3. In the decider, Eala raced to a 4-1 lead, but the experienced Greek leveled at 4-4. Eala held serve for 5-4, then broke Sakkari in the next game to clinch her place in the final.
Another final in the bag 😮💨
Alex Eala’s 2026 is finishing with a flourish, as she defeats Sakkari 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 to book her place in the Hong Kong final!
#PHKTO2026 https://t.co/5na15yAQKp
— wta (@WTA) November 7, 2026
The victory marks Eala’s third career WTA Tour final and her second of the 2026 season.
Eala will face American Claire Liu for the title on November 8. Liu reached the final by defeating Alexandra Shubladze, 7-5, 6-4, in the other semifinal. The match gives Eala a chance to avenge her loss to Liu at the 2025 Guangzhou Open, where the American won in three sets.
