Alex Eala ends season as runner-up in Hong Kong
World No. 102 Claire Liu defeated the Filipina in the final, becoming the tournament’s first American champion.
Alex Eala finished her 2026 season with a defeat to Claire Liu in the Hong Kong Tennis Open final, missing out on a second WTA title. The American, ranked world No. 102, beat the Filipina for the second time in their two career meetings.
With Liu leading 4-3 in the opening set, Eala took a medical timeout to get her right knee taped. Liu then won both remaining games as Eala made several errors, including a return infraction in the ninth game.
Eala had seven game points during the second set’s opening game but could not convert any of them. Liu eventually won that 26-minute game, then took the next five, ending the match with three successive aces.
Liu became the first American to claim the Hong Kong Open title. She had also defeated Eala in the round of 32 at the 2025 Guangzhou Open. After the final, Eala congratulated Liu and thanked the organisers, tournament staff, physiotherapists and fans.
Eala’s season included her first WTA 500 title at the Mubadala Citi DC Open and her second WTA 125 crown at the Birmingham Open. She also reached the Wimbledon round of 16 and the Berlin Tennis Open semi-finals.
