Alex Eala not only ended the 2025 MGM Macau Tennis Masters with a loss, but her match against Mirra Andreeva on the afternoon of December 28 at the Macao Forum also marked the final match of her historic 2025 tennis season.
Did her Best Against the Ranked No. 9 Rival
The 18 year old ranked No. 9 Russian Mirra Andreeva proved to be too much for the 20 year old Filipina Alex Eala for the last match of the Macau’s exhibition tournament.
The two are very well familiar with each as they have matched before during their junior years.
Tight Opening Set Sets the Tone
Eala came out composed and competitive in the opening set, trading groundstrokes confidently with the higher-ranked Russian.
After dropping the first game, the Filipina regrouped to seize a 2-1 advantage, briefly putting Andreeva under pressure.
The Russian teenager responded quickly, stringing together games to move ahead 3-2. Eala refused to back down, leveling the score at 3-all and later digging deep to save three set points while serving at 4-5.
Despite the resistance, Andreeva’s precision and depth proved decisive as she closed out the set, after Eala was forced into extended defensive rallies.
FINAL SCORE OF SET 1: 6-4
Early Promise Fades in Second Set
Momentum briefly swung back in Eala’s favor at the start of the second set.
Even after her serve was broken in the opening game, the 20-year-old rallied to take a 2-1 lead, sparking hopes of a potential turnaround.
From that point on, Andreeva found another gear. Fighting off illness, the Russian steadied her service games, erased the deficit at 2-all, and proceeded to dominate the remainder of the match.
FINAL SCORE OF SET 2: 6-2
She reeled off five consecutive games, sealing the victory in just over an hour and delivering the deciding points for Team Conchita, which claimed the overall Macau Masters title, 8-2.
Respect and Reflection After the Match
Despite the defeat, Eala embraced the experience of sharing the court with one of the world’s top players during the festive exhibition.
“I know it’s a very special time of the year, so thank you so much. I really had a good time sharing the court with Mirra, of course, and all of you so this experience was just so great for me,” Eala said.
Eala’s singles loss came a day after a narrow defeat in the mixed doubles event.
Final Notes on Team Format and What’s Next
The MGM Macau Tennis Masters featured a team-based structure pitting squads led by Conchita Martinez and Li Na.
Eala represented Team Li Na alongside Ugo Humbert and Shang, while Andreeva was joined by Davidovich Fokina and Wu on Team Conchita.
With her final match of the year now in the books, Eala is expected to turn her attention toward the start of her 2026 season.
She is slated to return to competition at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, from January 5 to 11, a WTA 250 event that will serve as her first official tournament ahead of the Australian Open.
Although she fell short of ending her breakout year with a victory, Eala leaves Macau with valuable experience, renewed confidence, and momentum as she prepares for the next stage of her rapidly rising career.
