Alexandra Eala's Singapore Tennis Open opponent completes push-ups halfway through upset win

Friday, 25 September 2026 at 17:00

Tatiana Prozorova is enjoying the week of her life at the Singapore Tennis Open. She defeated Alexandra Eala in the second round, taking down one of the big title favourites. During that match, she pulled off a couple push-ups to the bemusement of many. She cleared up the reasons behind this move after the win.

The Russian, currently ranked 180th in the world, has enjoyed some brilliant displays this week. She began with a very tight comeback win over Sofia Costoulas 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-2. This set up a hugely intriguing contest against Eala, and she relished this prospect.

Back playing in Asia, Eala was set to get a huge amount of support and hype as she looked to continue her brilliant form. It started well, clinching the first set with the contest going her way at the start.

It would all change. From being a set and break ahead, that advantage was extinguished as Prozorova fought her way back, taking a second set point against the serve to set up a decider. After Eala broke to go 3-2 ahead, Prozorova did not look back. She won the remaining four games to seal her spot in the quarter-final of the WTA 500 event.

While she got a lot of positive attention around her win, it took many by surprise when she started doing push-ups on the court. In her press conference afterwards, she tried to explain the method behind her madness.

"Well, I can't explain it," she said. "It's nothing special, just, you know, some spasm on my right chest, and I just need to have some blood here to feel my forehand better. That's all. Nothing like magic."

Tatiana Prozorova I wasn't familiar with your game 😂 pic.twitter.com/jiqRbqmPnd
— til polarity's end 🎾⚡Slamdreeva era⚡⚫⚪ (@lildarkcage) September 24, 2026

Prozorova continues immaculate form

It would get even better for Prozorova, who went on to defeat Xinyu Wang 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to book her spot in the semi-finals, a huge groundbreaking moment for her.

Wang was ranked 140 positions higher than her opponent and took the first set in what she hoped to be a routine win. It was anything but. Prozorova missed a set point as Wang broke back to level at 5-5, but two games later she was not as sloppy and forced a third-set decider.

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The 22-year-old needed just one break. It was a sketchy ending, as her Chinese opponent failed to convert any of her break point chances. A third match point was taken with Prozorova prevailing in fine fashion.

She is one win away from securing a maiden WTA final. With fellow countrywoman Mirra Andreeva also out, the main title contenders are falling. She will take on the winner of Maria Sakkari and Talia Gibson.

Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist

Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.

Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.

He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.

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