Alex Eala Faces Tough Road Ahead After Suzhou Open Defeat

SUZHOU, China — Alex Eala‘s journey at the Suzhou Open WTA 125 came to an end on Friday after facing Viktorija Golubic in a quarterfinal match. The 20-year-old Filipina tennis player fought hard, securing two victories in earlier rounds but ultimately lost to the experienced Swiss player in a close contest, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(0).

Despite the loss, Eala remains optimistic about her upcoming schedule. She is set to compete in multiple events as she continues her busy Asian swing this October. Her next challenge is the Wuhan Open, a WTA 1000 event, where she will aim to qualify for the main draw.

Eala, who previously received a wildcard for the Wuhan Open in 2024, must win two qualifying matches to secure her spot in the main draw. Competing alongside her will be top-ranked players such as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff. The Wuhan Open runs from October 6 to October 12.

Following Wuhan, Eala will make a trip to Osaka for the Japan Open, a WTA 250 event scheduled from October 13 to 19. In 2023, Eala successfully navigated the qualifying rounds to reach the main draw, although she was eliminated in the first round. This year, she will face established players including Naomi Osaka and Leylah Fernandez.

After Osaka, Eala will head to the Guangzhou Open, another WTA 250 tournament, from October 20 to 26. This will mark Eala’s third consecutive year participating in the event, where she has previously reached the main draw through qualifying.

Eala is expected to close her 2025 WTA season at the Hong Kong Tennis Open, running from October 27 to November 2. This will be her first appearance at the event, which she missed in the two previous years. Alongside Eala, big names like Naomi Osaka and Daria Kasatkina are already confirmed for the tournament.

After a productive 2025 season filled with historical achievements, Eala is poised to tackle more challenges head-on.