“You guys also look tired”: Alexandra Eala responds ironically after journalist questions her exhaustion

Friday, 06 November 2026 at 06:30

Alexandra Eala had a pointed response when a journalist suggested she looked tired during her latest match at the Hong Kong Open. It has been another significant week in a breakthrough season for the 21-year-old, who reached a career-high ranking of world No. 17.

The Filipino was asked whether the apparent fatigue was simply an impression from the press room, but rather than immediately addressing the question, she turned it back on the reporters with a playful exchange that brought a lighter moment to her post-match press conference.

The interaction came after Eala battled past Czech teenager Tereza Valentova to reach the quarter-finals in Hong Kong. The second seed secured a 6-4, 7-6 victory, saving herself from a potentially deciding set after Valentova fought back from 2-4 in the second. Eala eventually closed out the match in a tiebreak, completing a demanding contest in one hour and 54 minutes.

Eala is now looking to extend her run in Hong Kong, where she is the second seed and has the backing of a sizeable Filipino community. Her next challenge is another important one: she faces Croatia's Antonia Ruzic in the quarter-finals on Friday, with a place in the last four at stake.

“You guys also look tired”: Eala turns the question back on journalist

The exchange began when a reporter asked whether Eala had looked particularly tired during the match.

“You seemed to be very tired during the game. Is that just our impression?” the journalist asked.

“Is that your impression?” Eala replied.

When the reporter confirmed that it was, the Filipino turned the observation back on the room.

“You guys also look tired. Are you tired? Are you tired? Oh, you should rest," she said, delivering the response with a playful-ironic tone. "You should have some rest, I think."

Eala then moved on to give a more serious explanation of how she views fatigue, referring to comments she had made in an earlier interview.

“Being tired, like I said in my last interview, maybe if you saw it, is a blessing,” the 21-year-old added. “And of course, when you face opponents like Teresa, and opponents who are just as motivated to win as you are, you'll give everything that you have, physically and mentally.”

The world No. 17 also made it clear that she does not see exhaustion as something unusual for a professional athlete competing through a demanding season.

“At the end of the day, I'm an athlete. So yeah, I get tired, I recover, and then I go back and I do it again,” Eala explained. “And it's a constant effort. It's a constant effort to do it again and again and again and again, no matter whether you're tired or you feel like you can climb Mount Everest.”

Her response was consistent with the message she had delivered after her opening-round victory over Emerson Jones. On that occasion, Eala had also addressed suggestions that she was looking fatigued, arguing that reaching a career-high ranking despite the demands of the season was something to appreciate rather than complain about.

Alex Eala being disrespectful to a journalist at the Hong Kong 250. Seems like the fame that comes with being a 2x star of the swing champion is getting to her head... might need another humbling from Iva👀 https://t.co/NBcYmwQnuI
— NotLite (@NotLite_03) November 5, 2026

Eala looks to build on Hong Kong run against Ruzic

The victory over Valentova was particularly significant given Eala's previous record against the Czech. She had lost their two earlier meetings, including at the Qatar Open in February, but managed to reverse that trend in Hong Kong with a composed performance under pressure.

Eala had to work for the result. After taking the opening set, she fell behind 4-2 in the second and faced the possibility of a deciding set. She recovered to force a tiebreak, where she established a 5-0 advantage. Valentova saved three match points before Eala finally secured the win.

The Filipino had also arrived in Hong Kong after a demanding stretch of tournaments. She reached the quarter-finals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo at the end of October, beating Mika Stojsavljevic and Talia Gibson before losing to Shnaider. Earlier in the Asian swing, she had also competed in Ningbo and Wuhan, adding to the workload that prompted the question about fatigue.

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Her next opponent, Ruzic, reached the last eight after defeating China's Wang Xinyu in three sets. The Croatian will provide another test as Eala attempts to reach the semi-finals and continue her push towards the end of the season.

For now, however, Eala has made her position clear: fatigue is part of the demands of professional tennis, and she sees no reason to treat it as a negative. As her response to the journalist suggested, the people asking the questions might need a rest too.

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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