Alex Eala settles for Asian Games bronze after semifinal loss to China’s Wang

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 02, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine Sports Commission

NAGOYA, Japan — Alex Eala ended her 2026 Asian Games women’s singles campaign with a bronze medal after falling to China’s Wang Xiyu in three sets in the semifinals on Thursday, Oct. 1.

The Filipina top seed took the opening set but Wang rallied to secure a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center, ending Eala’s bid for a place in the gold-medal match. 

Eala, ranked World No. 18, came out strongly and raced to a 5-0 advantage in the first set. Wang responded by winning three consecutive games, but Eala stopped the comeback and closed out the set, 6-3. 

Momentum shifted in the second set.

Wang, ranked World No. 85, built a 5-1 lead before Eala won two straight games to cut the deficit. The Chinese player held on to take the set, 6-3, and force a decider. 

Wang then took control of the third set, opening a 4-1 advantage before completing the 6-2 win and advancing to the final.

She will face compatriot Zhang Shuai, who defeated Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva, 6-4, 6-2, in the other semifinal, setting up an all-China gold-medal match. 

Eala had already secured at least a bronze medal on Wednesday after defeating Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland, 7-5, 6-0, in the quarterfinals. She saved a set point in the opening frame before winning the final three games and then sweeping the second set. 

The 21-year-old entered the tournament as the women’s singles top seed. After receiving a first-round bye, she defeated Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej, 6-1, 6-0, in the Round of 16 before overcoming Garland in the quarterfinals. 

The bronze is Eala’s second consecutive Asian Games medal in women’s singles. She also won singles bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games, along with another bronze in mixed doubles, bringing her career Asian Games medal haul to three bronzes. 

After the semifinal, Eala said she had “no regrets” about competing for the Philippines in Nagoya, saying she was happy to experience the support and compete with the national team.