By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 8, 2026
Photo credit: Hong Kong Tennis Open
Claire Liu made her Hong Kong debut a milestone moment.
World No. 102 Liu ran off nine consecutive games to sweep Alexandra Eala, 6-3, 6-0, and capture her maiden Tour-level title at the Hong Kong Tennis Open.
In her second Tour-level final, Liu made history as the first American woman to win the Hong Kong championship. Liu capped a week that saw sweep all 10 sets she played en route to the title. Liu defeated Tatiana Prozorova, Katie Boulter, Zeynep Sonmez, Alexandra Shubladze and Eala.
The 26-year-old Liu broke for a 5-3 lead then served out the first set on her second set point.
Eala took treatment for a right knee issue then dug in during a physical first game of the second set.
Swinging even more freely in the second set, a tenacious Liu won the longest game of the match that spanned 28 points. Liu converted her fifth break point of that draining game for a 1-0 second set lead.
The 17th-ranked Eala, who waged a two hour, 43-minute battle beating Maria Sakkari in Saturday’s semifinals, had three break points to level. Liu fought of all three break points to back up the break for 2-0.
Those first two games sparked Liu, who denied Washington, DC champion Eala her second career championship.
A year ago at this time, Liu was ranked No. 221. This title triumph vaults Liu to No. 69 in the WTA Live Rankings.
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