Eala falls in Wuhan qualifier, targets Osaka next

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala bowed out of the Wuhan Open qualifying draw on Saturday, dropping a gritty three-setter to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, in Wuhan, China.

Eala entered qualifying as the No. 5 seed and faced world No. 92 Uchijima, who earlier this year reached a career-high ranking of No. 47. The match turned into a battle of power and endurance, featuring long rallies and sharp-angled exchanges across nearly two hours.

Coming off a quick turnaround—flying from Suzhou to Wuhan just hours after her Friday quarterfinal exit—Eala showed resolve in the second set, serving it out 6-3 to level the match at one set apiece.

Uchijima held firm in the decider, saving break points and building a 3-0 lead after several grueling games. Eala pushed back to 3-1 and later 5-2, but the Japanese player’s consistency on serve sealed the win.

Despite the result, Eala’s fight and form stood out as she continues her Asian swing following strong showings in Suzhou and Jingshan. Barring any changes, she is expected to head to Osaka for the Japan Open starting Oct. 13.