Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala stormed into the Hong Kong Tennis Open final after defeating former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari of Greece in a thrilling three-set semifinal, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, on Saturday, moving one victory away from claiming her second WTA Tour title of the season.
HONG KONG — Alex Eala continued her remarkable breakthrough season after overcoming Greek tennis star Maria Sakkari in a hard-fought semifinal to secure her place in the Hong Kong Tennis Open championship match.
The 21-year-old Filipina, seeded second and ranked No. 17 in the world, displayed tremendous composure and determination to defeat the fourth-seeded Sakkari, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, despite multiple rain interruptions and a determined comeback from her experienced opponent.
The victory brought Eala within reach of another major career achievement as she prepares for Sunday’s final against American Claire Liu.
Eala admitted that Sakkari raised her level during the match, forcing her to remain focused and respond to the Greek veteran’s aggressive comeback.
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“I think in that moment she really stepped up and brought what she needed to bring to come back, so I tried every point to stay there and step up myself,” Eala said during her post-match interview.
She also described the challenging rain delays as a test of patience and concentration, explaining that maintaining her focus on the next point helped her overcome the interruptions.
“I was just blank. I think it was a lot of patience, but a lot, a lot, a lot of focus,” Eala said, expressing happiness over emerging from the difficult experience as a better player.
Eala Faces Claire Liu in Hong Kong Open Final
Eala will battle American Claire Liu in Sunday’s championship match, with the Filipino star aiming to capture her second career Tour title and finish her impressive season with another trophy.
Liu, ranked No. 102 in the world, booked her place in the final after defeating Russian Alexandra Shubladze, ranked No. 136, in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.
With her world ranking, tournament seeding, and recent performances, Eala enters the championship match as the higher-ranked contender. However, she will still need to deliver another strong performance to secure the title.
Impressive Run Highlights Eala’s Breakthrough Season
Eala’s journey to the Hong Kong final further highlights her growing presence in international women’s tennis.
Before facing Sakkari, the Filipina had advanced through the tournament without dropping a single set in her first three matches.
She opened her campaign with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Australian Emerson Jones before defeating Czech player Tereza Valentova, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7).
In the quarterfinals, Eala overcame Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic in another demanding encounter, winning 7-6 (9-7), 7-5, in a rain-interrupted match that lasted two hours and 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, Sakkari reached the semifinals after defeating Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 6-2, 6-3, in the quarterfinals.
Eala’s latest victory adds another significant accomplishment to a season that has already included a title at the Washington Open and several impressive performances against established players on the WTA Tour.
Now, with the Hong Kong Tennis Open championship within her reach, the Filipina star has another opportunity to demonstrate how far she has progressed and give Filipino tennis fans another reason to celebrate.
A victory over Liu would provide a fitting conclusion to Eala’s outstanding season and strengthen her growing reputation as one of the rising forces in women’s professional tennis.
