China’s Wang Xiyu ends Alex Eala’s Asian Games campaign

Alex Eala’s Asian Games gold medal dream will have to wait four more years.

On Oct. 1, 2026, China’s Wang Xiyu pulled off a massive reverse sweep, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, and frustrated the Filipina tennis ace during their 20th Asian Games women’s singles semifinal duel at Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Nagoya, Japan.

After a character test against Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland, Eala failed to sustain her momentum, conceding the final two sets to the Chinese netter, who quickly settled into the match despite falling behind 0-1.

Eala was firing on all cylinders during the opener as she zoomed to a commanding 5-0 lead, pummeling Wang with a series of groundstroke winners while protecting all of her service games in the first 20 minutes of action.

Wang showed resilience after extending the match, scoring three straight games to pull within two games, 5-3, but Eala had seen enough, holding serve to finally draw first blood and move a set away from gold medal contention.

Just when Eala thought that she had already figured Wang out, the Chinese tactician gave her a dose of her own medicine, specifically on her returns against Eala’s second serve.

With Eala still sloppy and inconsistent with her serves, Wang stepped in and punished her second serves, putting immense pressure on the Filipina as the match progressed.

Wang found the golden opportunity to move ahead with a much-needed break in the third game, followed by a hold and another break to move a game away from equalizing the match.

Eala broke Wang in the sixth game in an attempt to salvage the set, but a decisive performance in the eighth game spoiled her plans, setting up a deciding third frame.

Both players traded service holds in the first two games, but Wang once again gained the early edge after breaking Eala for a 3-1 advantage.

Since that break, Wang just continued to pound the ball harder, leaning on her clinical forehand drive that landed in Eala’s no-man’s land at will.

There was just nothing that Eala could do.

Out of desperation, the Filipina star tried to break Wang’s rhythm by sending out topspin lobs and slice drop shots, but none of those measures contained the Chinese bet as she steamrolled her way to a 5-2 lead.

Decisive, pumped up and determined to finish the match, Wang held Eala scoreless in the final game and officially moved to the gold medal match after an error was called.

Despite the loss, Eala still delivered a bronze medal to the PHL delegation and could only watch an all-Chinese grand final between Wang and Zhang Shuai, who earlier swept Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva in the other semifinal.

Keep your head up, Alex! It was still a good run!