Philippines' Alexandra Eala reacts as she plays against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova during their women's singles first round tennis match on the second day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2025. Glyn Kirk, AFPAlex Eala endured heartbreak as she bowed out of the Auckland Open semifinals.
The 20-year-old tennis ace put up a valiant stand but fell to China’s Wang Xinyu, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, in the semifinals of the ASB Classic on Saturday at Center Court of the Manuka Doctor Arena in New Zealand.
Eala faced an early four-game deficit and was on the brink of dropping the opening set after falling behind 1-5, but the world No. 53 responded by winning six straight games to steal the frame.
However, despite holding a 5-3 lead in the second set and having multiple chances to close out the match, Eala was unable to capitalize, as Wang reeled off four straight games to force a decider before taking control of the third set.
Eala also took a medical timeout early in the deciding frame while trailing 0-3 due to an apparent back issue, one that hindered her comeback hopes.
The Filipina star booked her semifinal berth on Friday after dispatching Poland’s Magda Linette, 6-3, 6-2, in the quarterfinals.
Earlier, Eala had also bowed out of the women’s doubles semifinals alongside her American partner, Iva Jovic, following a 5-7, 3-6 loss to the Chinese duo of Xu Yifan and Yang Zhaoxuan.