By Al S. Mendoza
THE question of the week is, “What’s happening to Alex Eala?”
Well, she keeps losing. Eerily, to unranked players.
Seemingly evaporating is Eala’s magical run of wins she had so magnificently accomplished in July and August.
“Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end.”
Days when Eala ran roughshod over elite players ranked much higher than her.
This was the Mubadala Open in Washington DC, USA, where Eala dispatched five high-caliber players with such chilling, killing, efficiency, to win her first WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) title with aplomb.
The stunning triumph earned for her profuse praise from even the legends of the game like Serena Williams, Billie Jean King and Maria Sharapova, to name only a few.
Her victims in the Mubadala mop up easily comprised a veritable Who’s Who in tennis.
First, Eala defeated China’s superstar Qinwen Zheng, the 2024 Paris Olympics champion, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, on July 29, kicking out the Chinese star in two hours and 33 minutes.
The following day, Eala dispatched Filipino-Canadian Leylah Fernandez, 6-2, 7-6, in one hour and 53 minutes.
Eala would next dismiss Ukrainian top gun Elina Svitolina in straight sets on Aug. 1, 6-3, 6-4, before taking out Japan No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the semifinals—also in straight sets—6-4, 6-2.
And, in the so-called moment of truth aka titular showdown on Aug. 4, Eala bucked a first-set loss before sending home No. 1 seed American Jessica Pegula, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 for the Filipina sensation’s maiden win since she turned pro in 2025.
The tennis world quickly celebrated the entry of a brand-new star as, indeed—to use that worn-out cliché—Eala has arrived.
Alas, if there is joy, there is also sadness.
Thus, the euphoria was but short-lived. Fleeting.
Barely a month later, Eala came crashing down to earth, beaten by an unranked Russian, Tatiana Prozorova, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, in the Round of 16 on Sept. 24, of the Singapore Open where Alex was seeded third behind No. 1 Mirra Andreeva and No. 2 Amanda Anisimova.
Eala seemed to have recovered somewhat as, five days later, she beat Thailand’s C. Patchurin, 6-1, 6-0, in Round One of the Asian Games, before getting past Taiwan’s Jodee Garland, 7-5, 6-0, on Sept. 30.
But on Oct. 1, China’s massively-built, 5-foot-11 Wang Xiyu outlasted Eala, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, as Alex appeared visibly spent as she played her third straight Asian Games match in as many days.
With the loss, Eala settled for the bronze—her dream of the Asiad gold vanishing into thin air.
And, 11 days later, Eala would again suffer a bitter debacle—a 6-4, 3-6, 3-6 loss to China’s Han Shi in her debut in the Wuhan Open in China, on Oct. 12.
A heart-breaker as Shi, a mere qualifier, is ranked 217th against the 19th-ranked Eala.
Why Eala suddenly keeps bowing to non-elite players is a mind-blower, indeed.
Maybe her public appearances lately, such as in fashion shows in Paris and her guesting to Sharapova’s podcast etc., might be too distracting as to affect her focus on the real task at hand: winning matches?
We need a reboot, I guess.
THAT’S IT If, indeed, National U assistant women’s basketball coach Paul Du elbowed Arsenio Dysangco during the customary after-game handshake at the center court of Smart Araneta Coliseum, that would easily defy logic. Dysangco, the assistant coach of University of Sto. Tomas ladies basketball team, fell hard obviously and needed medical attention as he was wheeled out of the arena on a wheelchair. Du was banned for the rest of Season 89 by league commissioner Jai Reyes? Harsh. But if due process was observed, so be it.
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