Eala ready to disappear for a bit after breakout season comes to an end

Alex Eala expressed her desire to take a break from competitive tennis following her successful season, which concluded with a loss to American player Claire Liu at the Hong Kong Open final on Sunday. At just 21 years old, Eala has made history as the highest-ranked Filipino and Southeast Asian player in WTA history. This year, she has been a fan favorite, and her impressive run in Hong Kong has propelled her to a career-high 15th position in the world rankings.

Earlier in the year, Eala secured her first WTA Tour-level title at the Washington Open and claimed victories against several top-10 players. She also earned a bronze medal at the Asian Games last month. Eala reflected on her achievements, stating that ending the year at 15th was a dream come true. When asked about her goals for 2027, she mentioned that she hasn't given much thought to the upcoming season, as she is currently enjoying the rewards of her accomplishments this year.

Eala plans to spend time with her family and take some time to "disappear" before focusing on her next steps in the sport.