Alexandra Eala hopes to finish her 2026 season in style this week at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open.
The global sensation, who has thrilled the tennis world – and her passionate Filipino fan base – at every turn this season, improved to 37-24 at tour level this year, earning her 26th hard-court triumph with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Australian wild card Emerson Jones.
Eala, playing at her career-high ranking of No. 17, sets up a second-round clash with 19-year-old Czech Tereza Valentova.
Eala rushed out to a 4-0 lead in the opening set and held off the 18-year-old, who fought back from a double-break deficit in both sets.
“It was a really good match,” Eala said. “Emerson is such a sweetheart off the court and such a great player on the court – I’m looking forward to many more matches together with her.”
Eala broke serve six times in the 83-minute contest. After Jones rallied back with three straight games in the opening set, Eala took two of the final three games to close the stanza.
She broke for 3-1 in the second set, then 5-1, before Jones recovered one of the breaks in the next game.
Eala converted her second match point, firing a booming first serve down the T to force a final error from Jones.
“I cannot say enough how much I enjoy playing in front of you guys,” Eala said. “There are few places in the world that would be better to cap off this season – this amazing season! – than with you guys here, close to home.”
Eala has a chance to move up to a new career high if she progresses deep in the draw this week in Hong Kong.
Top-seeded Sorana Cirstea, playing what could be the last event of her career, defeated Maria Timofeeva, 7-6(6), 1-6, 7-5, to set up a second-round encounter with American Mary Stoiana.
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