"It’s changed my life for the better, and... yeah, sorry" - A teary Alexandra Eala closes out 2026 season with emotional speech

Alexandra Eala has enjoyed a brilliant 2026 campaign, but it has ended in a cruel turn of events. Injury severely hampered her quest for a second WTA Tour title, losing the final nine games against Claire Liu in the final of the Hong Kong Open. Eala was visibly emotional afterwards, reflecting on a brilliant season.

The American rises back into the top 70 with a 6-3, 6-0 rout over the No.2 seed to confirm her first-ever WTA Tour title in a breakthrough week for the 26-year-old. Despite Eala getting the better start, winning eight consecutive points to lead 2-1, Liu took control of proceedings after a medical timeout for Eala showcased her current vulnerability on court.

It had been a long and gruelling season for the Filipina, who had boasted strapping over her right knee throughout the event. She then got a whole lot more bandaging moving up onto her thigh as she continued to soldier on.

It was all in vain. A brave effort culminated in a lacklustre performance that Liu jumped all over, concluding the Asian swing with a bang.

Eala was first up to receive her trophy and complete her customary speech after a final. It was a golden opportunity to put the spotlight on the hard-working people around her that made this season so special, but first her praise went the way of her victorious opponent.

“First and foremost, I want to congratulate Claire on an amazing tournament, a great week and a great match. Very, very well-deserved. Congratulations," she began. “I’d like to thank the tournament staff and the organisers for the amazing hospitality, the physios for keeping me together. And, of course, the fans. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

She then went onto her team members, looking in their direction as she began to get emotional. “I mean, wrapping up this year, you guys do not know how much meaning you add on top of what I do, and how much of a pleasure it is to go about my life sharing these moments with you all. So I’m forever grateful.

“And, of course, last but not least, my team, my parents. My brother, Miko, my coach, Joan, and my two other coaches, Yuke and Sandro. Yeah, this season has just… It’s changed my life. It’s changed my life for the better, and… yeah, sorry," she stated while starting to cry.

“Like, I’m really, I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve put in this year. And we’re the only ones who truly know what it took to arrive to this point in our journey. So thank you so, so much. Congratulations. This is only the beginning. And this one, like all of them, is ours. So, congratulations.”

An emotional end to a fantastic 11 months of action. Eala's most notable moment came at the DC Open, where she defeated some of the best players in the world to win a maiden WTA title, seeing off Jessica Pegula in the final.

A WTA 125 title in Birmingham was also collected in the midst of a very successful period. She reached four WTA semi-finals and reached the last-16 at Wimbledon in her best-ever Grand Slam performance. However, there is the sense that this is just the beginning for the young talent. Her first full year on the WTA Tour may have been a roaring success, finishing in a career high 15th in the world in the WTA rankings, but there is so much more to come.