Alex Eala outlasts Croatian rival to reach Hong Kong Open semifinals
'It was a roller coaster for sure and an incredible battle,' says Alex Eala after winning a quarterfinal heart-stopper to march to the last four in Hong Kong
MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala booked a ticket to the semifinals of the 2026 Hong Kong Open on Friday, November 6, after surviving a thriller against Croatia’s Antonia Ružić, 7-6(7), 7-5.
The two players went neck and neck all throughout, even needing a tiebreaker, where world No. 17 Eala pulled away late from a 6-6 deadlock to take the first set, 7-6(7).
Due to heavy rain, the match also got suspended halfway through the second set, where the Filipina was leading, 4-3.
Ruzic seemingly picked up momentum after the break to take a 5-4 lead. But Eala managed to contain her Croatian foe, winning the last three games to wrap up the match, 7-5.
“It was a roller coaster for sure and an incredible battle,” Eala said of the grueling duel. “I don’t know what inspired me or kept me to continue digging deeper, but Antonia played a really amazing match and I’m blessed to be able to play another round here.”
“When you’re on court, there’s not much else you can think about except how to play right,” Eala responded in her post-game interview when asked how she maintained her composure.
“But I think more than staying focused, it was just choosing to push through and give everything that I have.”
The victory propelled Eala to the last four of the Hong Kong Open for the first time. In last year’s edition, the Filipina star exited in the round of 16 against Canada’s Victoria Mboko.
Eala will face fourth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece in the semifinal round on Saturday, November 7.
The Hong Kong Open is Eala’s last tournament of the year.
The 21-year-old will then mark her homecoming with “Alex Eala Live: Game. Set. Celebrate” on December 8 at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, where she is set to face Indonesia’s Janice Tjen. – Rappler.com
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