Eala turns focus to Asian Games after shock Singapore Open exit

Singapore's Alexandra Eala struggled to maintain her momentum after a remarkable season, as she was defeated by Tatiana Prozorova in the Singapore Open on Thursday. The 18-year-old, currently ranked 18th in the world, rallied from a break down to win the first set against a passionate Filipino crowd at the OCBC Arena. However, Prozorova, the 165th-ranked player, rebounded from a 4-2 deficit to secure victories in the second set and ultimately in the match.

Eala expressed her disappointment following a grueling three-hour battle, stating that she would need to improve but not let the loss overshadow her progress. The Filipina had already achieved significant success, winning her first WTA title at the DC Open in August and becoming the first Filipino to enter the Top 20 rankings. Eala, with widespread fan support, now heads to Japan to represent her country in the Asian Games, where she believes she has as strong a chance as any other competitor.