Eala’s gold medal hopes dashed at Asian Games

Alexandra Eala’s hopes of a maiden Asian Games gold medal and qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics were crushed yesterday as China’s unheralded Wang Xiyu rallied to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over the Filipina top seed.

Eala, the Southeast Asian nation’s first WTA title winner and a fan favorite on Tour, was consigned to a second singles bronze medal and third in total, having also taken the mixed doubles bronze at the Hangzhou Games three years ago.

The 21-year-old gave up a chance for ranking points and prize money at the concurrent China Open to represent the Philippines in Nagoya and might get a fine and ranking penalty from the WTA for skipping the mandatory event in Beijing.

The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala reacts to a point against Russia’s Tatiana Prozorova during the Singapore Open on Thursday last week.

Photo: AFP

Eala said she had no regrets.

“I’m really happy to have experienced this, to experience the support ... and to be with the team and, yeah, to compete for the country,” she told reporters.

The world No. 18 was on track for her first Asian Games final, but her level dropped in the second set before she crumbled to a 4-1 deficit in the third.

The 85th-ranked Wang fought off break points against the increasingly desperate Eala before serving out the match to love at Higashiyama Park Tennis Center.

Wang “was more consistent. I had a couple of ups and downs during the match, which is something I have to talk to my team about and process,” Eala said.

Wang would meet 37-year-old Zhang Shuai in an all-China final.