In a marathon encounter that pushed both players to their limits, Chinese standout Wang Xinyu edged out the Philippines’ Alex Eala to secure a spot in the finals of the 2026 ASB Classic.
The 2-hour, 48-minute semifinals clash—the longest of the tournament so far—saw Wang survive a relentless comeback effort from the 20-year-old Eala, eventually escaping with a 7-5, 5-7, 4-6 victory.
Wang, the 24-year-old known for her aggressive baseline play, admitted that the Filipina’s tough stand made the victory feel hard-earned.
“It was a crazy battle from the start,” Wang said of their first-ever meeting. “She is an absolute fighter. When she started playing unbelievably, there was nothing much I could do other than just clap for her good shots.”
The match was defined by Eala’s refusal to quit. In the opening set, Wang raced to a commanding 5-1 lead. However, Eala mounted a stunning rally, winning six consecutive games to take the set 7-5 and stun the Chinese veteran.
The drama intensified in the deciding set. History appeared to repeat itself as Wang again surged to a 5-1 lead. Eala, visibly hampered by lower back pain that began early in the set, refused to concede. Buoyed by a vocal crowd of Auckland-based Filipinos, Eala clawed back to 4-5 using sharp, straight passing shots.
However, the comeback fell just short as a few late forehand errors allowed Wang to finally close out the match.
“I told myself it’s a fresh start,” Wang said of her mindset during the seesaw battle. “No matter how she was playing… I’m going to try to take every game, every point, and every shot.”
Despite the loss, the tournament marks a significant milestone for Eala. Currently ranked World No. 53, this was her third WTA Tour semifinal appearance. She exits Auckland with $12,331 (approximately P731,000) in prize money and 98 ranking points.
Wang scored 59 points off 89 first serves, while Eala had 55 points from 85 first serves.
