PH’s Alex Eala Bows Out Of ASB Classic, Thanks Auckland FUB For hospitality

Photos: Alex Eala Instagram

AUCKLAND, New Zealand—Philippines tennis player Alex Eala fell to China’s Wang Xinyu at the ASB Classic semi finals Saturday, January 9, after a three-set roller coaster between the players.

“The night opened with a three-set rollercoaster between No. 4 seed Alexandra Eala and No. 7 seed Wang Xinyu. Wang came from a set down, saved a match point in the second set and ultimately prevailed 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 in just under three hours,” the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) said.

Despite the lost, Eala is thankful for Aukland’s hospitality.

‘Till my heart stops. So close yet so far. Thank you Auckland for the warmest hospitality to start the year. Truly felt the wairua,” Eala said on her Instagram.

20-year-old Eala is ranked 54 in WTA while 24-year-old Xinyu at 57.

According to WTA, Wang described the match with Eala as a crazy battle from the start to the end.

“She’s an absolute fighter, and to be honest, I feel more pressure when I’m up 5-0 than when we were love-love. I’m just really happy that I got through this one today and through to my first ever final (here),” Wang said.

“Wang carried that momentum into the third set, winning the first four games for a commanding lead. Eala clawed back to trim the deficit to 5-4, but Wang closed out the match with one final hold, securing victory thanks to timely shot making and help in the form of more untimely errors off Eala’s racket,” the WTA said.

Wang is an Olympic silver medalist in Paris mixed doubles in 2024.

Meanwhile, Eala won the women's singles gold medal at the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand in December 2025, becoming the first Filipina to win it since 1999.