“Get back on court and work on A, B and C”: Alexandra Eala outlines response after Singapore defeat

Friday, 25 September 2026 at 01:00

Alex Eala's return to the WTA Tour after the US Open ended in disappointment as Tatiana Prozorova produced the biggest victory of her career to defeat the Filipina 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the second round of the Singapore Tennis Open.

The Russian, ranked No. 189 at the start of the tournament, recovered from a break down in both the second and third sets to claim her first Top-20 victory and reach the quarter-finals of a WTA 500 event for the first time.

Eala had taken the opening set and moved 4-2 ahead in the second before Prozorova fought back to level the match. The Russian then repeated the feat in the deciding set, coming from behind once again to complete a three-hour battle and move into the last eight.

For Eala, it was a rare blemish in what has been the best season of her career. The Filipina remains world No. 18 after her Singapore exit, although Elise Mertens could move ahead of her depending on how far the Belgian goes in the tournament.

Eala accepts Prozorova's best performance

Prozorova's ranking meant Eala entered the match as the clear favourite, but the Russian showed why rankings could not tell the full story of the contest. The 19-year-old had never previously reached a WTA 500 quarter-final and had never beaten a Top-20 opponent before, but she repeatedly found a way back whenever Eala appeared to have control.

The result was particularly notable given Eala's record this season. The Filipina had not lost to a player outside the Top 100 since October 2025, when she fell to Claire Liu at Guangzhou Open

Rather than looking for excuses after the defeat, however, Eala immediately acknowledged that Prozorova had produced the better performance on the day.

“Yeah, I think that Tatiana played really well today,” the world No. 18 said in pres conference. “But yeah, I think first you just have to, you know, like every loss, accept the fact that maybe she performed better today and then look at it, take the time to analyze, take the time to learn, like I said.

She had opportunities to take control but could not prevent Prozorova from repeatedly changing the momentum, particularly after taking the second set despite trailing 4-2. “I fought. I did everything I could on the court,” Eala explained.

The Russian's reward is a place in the quarter-finals against Xinyu Wang, with another milestone now within reach. Prozorova will leave Singapore with a new career-high ranking of world No. 140 and can continue her climb if she can produce another victory against the world No. 40.

For Eala, the immediate task is instead to understand why she was unable to convert her advantage and close out a match that had initially appeared to be moving in her favour.

“But yeah, I think it's just, you know, with my team, it's gonna be... We didn't perform like how we wanted because of A, B and C,” the 21-year-old added. “And then, you know, get back on court and work on A, B and C. And so, try to do better for the next match.”

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The Asian Games and Wuhan have now become Eala's next targets

Singapore was Eala's first tournament since the US Open, where her run ended in the third round against Iva Jovic. She will now have a longer break before returning to the WTA Tour, having chosen to skip the China Open in favour of competing at the Asian Games.

That decision comes with a financial consequence. The China Open is a mandatory event on the WTA calendar, meaning Eala is expected to receive a fine of several thousand dollars for missing the tournament.

Her next scheduled appearance will come at the Wuhan Open, which begins on October 12 and represents the final WTA 1000 event of the season. It will also be an important tournament for Eala as she attempts to preserve her place inside the world's top 20 heading into the final weeks of the year.

Despite the disappointment in Singapore, Eala's focus after the match was already on the work required to make sure the same problems do not follow her into the next tournament. She described the contest as physically and mentally demanding, but also pointed to the moments when she felt she was able to play at the level she wanted.

“It was very physically and mentally demanding. I mean, tennis in general is demanding in both aspects,” Eala added. “I tried to stay positive. I think there are definitely moments in the match where I played better than other moments."

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“So, always trying to chase that, you know, move my feet and chase and look for ways for me to play better - and, I guess, impose my game,” Eala added. “I was just constantly trying to do my best.”

That mindset will now be tested during the final stretch of the season. Eala has already secured the biggest ranking breakthrough of her career in 2026, but the remaining tournaments will determine whether she can finish the year inside the Top 20 and build on the progress that took her from No. 53 to the position she holds today.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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