Alex Eala’s pursuit of a maiden Asian Games gold medal and a potential spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics ended in the semifinals on Thursday. The Filipino top seed, ranked 18th globally, was defeated by China’s 85th-ranked Wang Xiyu at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in a match that finished 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. World number 85 Xiyu rallied to a 3-6 6-3 6-2 win over the Filipino top seed at the games on Thursday.
The 21-year-old Eala appeared to be on the path to her first final, but her performance faltered in the second set. Her struggles deepened in the third, where she trailed 4-1. Wang successfully fended off break points from a desperate Eala to serve out the match to love. Following the loss, Eala noted that her opponent displayed greater consistency and acknowledged that she needed to address her own mid-match inconsistency with her team.
Eala, the Philippines’ first WTA title winner, leaves Nagoya with her second singles bronze medal. She previously secured a bronze in mixed doubles during the 2022 Hangzhou Games. Her decision to represent her country in Nagoya meant skipping the mandatory China Open in Beijing, a choice that may now result in fines or ranking penalties from the WTA. The 21-year-old gave up the chance to earn ranking points and prize money at the concurrent China Open to represent the Philippines in Nagoya and may get a fine and ranking penalty from the WTA for skipping the mandatory event in Beijing. “I always feel like this may be my last games.
Despite the disappointment, Eala reflected positively on the experience. She expressed gratitude for the local support and the opportunity to compete alongside her national teammates. For the tournament final, Wang is set to face her compatriot Zhang Shuai. Zhang, 37, reached the final after a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.
Zhang, a seasoned competitor who previously won a team gold in 2010 and a singles silver in 2018, is already looking ahead to the future. Though she will be in her 40s for the 2030 Doha Games, she did not rule out participating. Reflecting on her resilience, Zhang remarked on her repeated returns to the court, stating that as long as an individual does not give up on themselves, no external force can effectively end their career.
