Pan Pacific Open 2026 — Philippines star Eala hopes to finish season with bang after Tokyo exit
For Alexandra Eala, a breakthrough season is not over yet, and she is already looking forward to the next challenge. | Photo Credit: AFP
For Alexandra Eala, a breakthrough season is not over yet, and she is already looking forward to the next challenge. | Photo Credit: AFP
Alexandra Eala’s quarterfinal run in Tokyo ended on Friday, and the Philippines star said she had “high motivation” to close out her breakthrough season strongly in Hong Kong next week.
Eala went down 2-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to Russia’s Diana Shnaider, the third seed, in her first appearance at the Pan Pacific Open.
The world No. 19 has one tournament remaining in a year in which she became the first Philippines player to win a WTA Tour title, doing so in Washington in August.
Eala is expected to be among the title favourites in Hong Kong and said she was not ready to reflect on her achievements just yet.
“I’m super excited, and I’m going in with high motivation,” said the 21-year-old.
ALSO READ: Elena Rybakina withdraws from Pan Pacific Open with neck injury after sealing year-end No. 1 spot
“I’m trying to put my reflections off for one more week because of said motivation. Check back in a week.”
Eala took the opening set by winning five games in a row, but the second was much tighter. Neither woman broke serve, and world number 13 Shnaider claimed the tie-breaker.
Shnaider moved a break ahead early in the decider, and Eala required treatment on her right foot before the Russian sealed the win with an ace.
Eala described the contest as “a huge battle”.
“Both of us could take the match to a really, really high level,” she said.
“I’m proud of that despite the loss, but I do think I had my chances.
“Next time, hopefully do better in those moments,” she added.
A large and passionate group of Philippines supporters was again behind her. It was her second trip to play in Japan in two months, after reaching the semifinals at the Asian Games in Nagoya.
“To be in front of the crowd and to play in this atmosphere is always super special,” she said.
“I love Japan as a whole, whether I’m here for tennis or not, so I really had fun.”
Shnaider will meet Slovakia’s 18-year-old Mia Pohankova in the semifinals, after Pohankova beat American Alycia Parks 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.
In the other semifinal, Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova faces Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, who progressed when world number one Elena Rybakina pulled out with a neck injury.
(With inputs from AFP)
Published on Oct 30, 2026
Latest on Sportstar
Live Blog 2026-10-30T18:06:47+05:30
Commonwealth Kabaddi Championships 2026: India Men and Women in semifinals; Women's team in action- Pan Pacific Open 2026 — Philippines star Eala hopes to finish season with bang after Tokyo exit
Live Blog 2026-10-30T13:57:57+05:30
South Africa vs Australia, Day 4 LIVE score: SA vs AUS commentary and updates
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.