Alex Eala and Zeynep Sonmez lost to Dayana Yastremska and Anhelina Kalinina, 2-6, 3-6, in the first round of the Wuhan Open.
The Filipina teamed up with her close friend Sonmez for the Wuhan Open doubles event after both players lost in singles. Eala lost to Shi Han, and Sonmez lost to Yulia Putintseva.
Eala and Sonmez weren’t at their best in Wuhan singles and didn’t fare much better in doubles. They looked a level below their Ukrainian opponents in both sets. Yastremska and Kalinina stormed to a 6-2 lead and threatened to win the second set by an even more convincing margin.
They broke back late on to save face, but couldn’t do much more, suffering a fairly comprehensive defeat to their more experienced opponents. After losing again, Eala now has an important decision to make.
Alex Eala must consider taking a break after latest defeat
To say Eala has been busy recently would be an understatement. The 21-year-old has been all over Asia this month and the last for several different tournaments. Eala has played the Singapore Tennis Open, the Asian Games, and the Wuhan Open.
Alex Eala’s singles record since the US Open (2-3)
- Singapore Tennis Open 2R [LOSS] vs Tatiana Prozorova, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6
- Asian Games 2R [WIN] vs Patcharin Cheapchandej, 6-1, 6-0
- Asian Games QF [WIN] vs Joanna Garland, 7-5, 6-0
- Asian Games SF [LOSS] vs Wang Xiyu, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6
- Wuhan Open 1R [LOSS] vs Shi Han, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6
Alex Eala’s doubles record since the US Open (1-2)
- Asian Games 1R [WIN] vs Lai Ching Laam/Kallista Liu, 6-1, 6-3
- Asian Games 2R [LOSS] vs Jiang Xinyu/Yang Zhaoxuan, 5-7, 2-6
- Wuhan Open 1R [LOSS] vs Dayana Yastremska/Anhelina Kalinina, 2-6, 3-6
Unfortunately for Eala, the heavy match load looks to have taken its toll. She isn’t enjoying the same success she was before the US Open, and has failed to live up to expectations on her home continent.
Will Alex Eala win a Grand Slam in 2027?
If so, which one does she take?
She lost her opening match in Singapore, failed to win gold as many expected in Aichi-Nagoya, and has now lost both the matches she played at the Wuhan Open. You could argue that Eala needs to play herself out of this rough patch, but the likelihood is that she needs a break.
The worry is that her schedule doesn’t allow for such a break. Eala is expected to play events in each of the next three weeks in Ningbo, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Judging by her last few performances, it’s tough to imagine Eala making deep runs at any of those events if she doesn’t rest up and recover.
Surely the wisest decision would be for Eala to skip the upcoming Ningbo Open and return in Tokyo or Hong Kong, provided she is ready to do so. Otherwise, we might see a few more early exits for the youngster before the end of the season.
Where is Alex Eala ranked after the Wuhan Open?
Eala’s doubles defeat won’t affect her in the long term, given she is primarily a singles star. The Filipina currently sits 127th in the ‘Live’ doubles rankings. However, in singles, she is now 19th, one spot off her career-high.
Live WTA singles rankings
| Rank | Player | Country | Points |
| 17 | Amanda Anisimova | USA | 2,363 |
| 18 | Naomi Osaka | Japan | 2,297 |
| 19 | Alex Eala | Philippines | 2,241 |
| 20 | Madison Keys | USA | 2,110 |
| 21 | Maja Chwalinska | Poland | 2,096 |
Only time will tell if she can improve that ranking before the end of the year. Next week’s Ningbo Open offers 500 ranking points, as does the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo the week after. The Hong Kong Open will offer 250 points, although in a weaker draw, you could argue Eala would be more likely to claim the title.
