Alex Eala’s start to her Asian swing ended in a nightmare in Singapore.
The Filipina tennis star fell to Tatiana Prozorova 4-6, 7-5, 3-6, in the round of 16 of the 2026 Singapore Tennis Open on Thursday evening at OCBC Arena.
After 18 days away from competitive tennis, Eala needed time to find her rhythm, particularly on return as she struggled to put pressure on Prozorova’s serve in the opening three games. The Russian held serve to move ahead 2-1 before capitalizing on Eala’s slow start to secure the first break of the match and take a 3-1 lead in the opening set.
Eala finally found her opening in a tense fifth game, needing five break points before converting her chance to get the break back and cut the deficit to 3-2. She followed it up with a clean hold in the sixth game, leveling the set at 3-3 and putting the pressure back on Prozorova.
The momentum continued to shift toward the 21-year old lefty as she broke for a second time in the seventh game, then held serve in the eighth to complete a four-game run. From trailing 1-3, the Filipina had turned the set around and moved within one game of taking the opener at 5-3.
However, Prozorova halted Eala’s four-game surge by holding serve in the ninth game, forcing the Filipina to serve for the set at 5-4. But closing out the opener proved to be a battle in itself, with Eala needing seven set points before finally converting on her chance to take the first set, 6-4, against the 22-year old Russian.
The second set opened with both players holding serve, but the third game once again turned into a prolonged battle. Eala eventually found the breakthrough, converting the opportunity to break Prozorova’s serve and move ahead 2-1.
Prozorova responded immediately, breaking back in the fourth game to level the set at 2-2 and keep herself within striking distance. The two then traded breaks over the next three games, with Eala eventually coming out ahead after another break in the fifth to regain control at 3-2.
As Eala looked to break away from the match with a hold of serve in the sixth game to make it 4-2, the world No. 180 made sure to keep in step with a three-game run, powered by an eighth game break to lead 5-4 late in the second set.
With both players trading holds in the 10th and 11th game, Prozorova showed how much good tennis she has played in the 12th game with a decisive break to send it to a third set.
Prozorova carried her momentum into the deciding set, opening with a two-game run capped by an early break in the second game to put Eala in a 2-0 hole. The Filipina responded immediately, however, breaking back in the third game before holding serve in the fourth to level the set at 2-2.
Eala then edged ahead 3-2 with another hold, but Prozorova refused to let her pull away. The Russian earned another break in the sixth game to draw level at 3-3, then consolidated the advantage with a hold in the seventh to move back in front, 4-3.
The momentum carried into the closing stages, with Prozorova breaking Eala’s serve in the eighth game before holding her nerve to serve for the match in the ninth. She converted the opportunity to complete the comeback after more than three hours of hard-fought tennis.
Up next for Eala is the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where she aims to bring a gold medal for the Philippines.
Source: www.espn.com
