Alex Eala’s 2026 Singapore Open campaign came to an abrupt end on Thursday evening after she fell to Russia’s Tatiana Prozorova, 4‑6, 7‑5, 6‑3, in a grueling Round of 16 clash that lasted three hours and nine minutes.
The third‑seeded Eala, ranked No. 18 in the world, entered the match after an 18‑day break from competitive tennis. Prozorova, ranked No. 180, immediately took advantage of the Filipina’s slow start, breaking serve to establish a 3‑1 advantage.
Eala gradually found her rhythm, however, and responded with four consecutive games. After needing five break points to get back on serve, she followed it with another break and a hold to move ahead, 5‑3. Prozorova managed to stop the run by holding for 5‑4, forcing Eala to serve for the set. The 10th game became a marathon, featuring eight deuces and multiple opportunities for both players. Eala eventually converted her seventh set point to take the opener, 6‑4, after 67 minutes.
Alex Eala Builds Lead, Tatiana Prozorova Rallies
The second set saw both players exchange breaks early, but Alex Eala appeared to regain control after moving ahead, 4‑2. The Filipina even had an opportunity to extend her advantage further, but Prozorova responded with a crucial backhand winner down the line.
Prozorova raised the quality of her attacking tennis, forcing Eala into difficult exchanges and eventually leveling the set at 4‑4. She then moved ahead, 5‑4, before Eala held to keep herself alive.
With Prozorova leading 6‑5, Eala appeared close to forcing a tiebreak. Instead, the Russian produced consecutive forehand winners to earn set point before Eala sent a forehand wide, allowing Prozorova to take the second set, 7‑5.
Prozorova Seizes Momentum in Deciding Third Set
Prozorova carried her momentum into the decider, opening with a 2‑0 advantage after breaking Eala’s serve.
The Filipina refused to surrender, responding with three straight games to take a 3‑2 lead. However, Eala’s serve began to falter, including several double faults, and Prozorova broke back to level the deciding set at 3‑3.
The seventh game became another pivotal battle. Eala earned four break points but could not convert any of them as Prozorova survived six deuces before holding for a 4‑3 lead.
Prozorova broke Eala in the eighth game and earned the opportunity to serve for the match. She then produced another forehand winner to reach match point before a forced error from Eala completed the upset at 6‑3.
Eala Reflects on Singapore Open Loss Before Asian Games
The victory marked Prozorova’s first career win over a Top 40 opponent and earned her a maiden WTA quarterfinal appearance. She will face China’s Wang Xinyu in the last eight.
“Honestly, I don’t have any words right now to describe my emotions, my feelings,” Prozorova said in her on‑court post‑game interview.
Eala acknowledged the disappointment but said she would use the loss as an opportunity to improve.
“Disappointed, of course. I think I need to just take the time to see what I could’ve improved and take the time to learn,” she said in the post‑game conference.
Alex Eala now shifts her attention to the 20th Asian Games in Aichi‑Nagoya, Japan, with the tennis competition scheduled to begin on September 27.
