What changed
Alex Eala defeated Maria Sakkari 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 on Saturday, November 7, to reach the 2026 Hong Kong Open final. The world No. 17 Filipina will face world No. 102 Claire Liu, who beat Alexandra Shubladze 7-5, 6-4.
Why it matters
Eala is now one win from her first WTA 250 title, but the final carries a sharper edge because Liu beat her in their only previous meeting, at the 2025 Guangzhou Open. Liu was ranked world No. 305 then.
The semifinal tested Eala’s ability to recover twice: first after losing the second set, then after Sakkari erased a 4-1 deficit in the decider. Rain delays added more interruptions, yet Eala kept her focus and finished the match with another three-set victory.
That makes the final a test of patience as much as power. Eala has already had to manage momentum swings and broken rhythm in Hong Kong. If she handles those pressures again, she will have a chance to settle the one result Liu currently owns between them.
The Hong Kong Open is also Eala’s final official event of 2026. She is due to return home for a celebration at the Philippine Arena on December 8.
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