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For Alex Eala, the road to the Jingshan Open final ended in a way that left fans stunned but also eerily familiar. Once again, it was Lulu Sun—the lefty powerhouse from Switzerland—who stood in her way. In a hard-fought semifinal clash, Eala fell short against her frequent rival, who seems to have found the blueprint for dismantling the Filipina star’s game.
The match was anything but one-sided. Eala came out swinging, painting the lines with her heavy forehand and mixing in clever net approaches. The first set was a tug-of-war, with both players refusing to give an inch. But just when Eala seemed poised to seize control, Sun’s relentless baseline aggression turned the tide. Using her big serve and laser-like backhand, Sun stole the momentum and didn’t look back.
For fans of Eala, it was a tough pill to swallow. The 19-year-old has been riding a wave of form in recent months, showing maturity and composure beyond her years. But Lulu Sun has proven to be her kryptonite, using her lefty angles to neutralize Eala’s rhythm and force errors at crucial moments. This semifinal was yet another reminder that, for all her progress, Eala still has hurdles to clear in her transition to the top tiers of the WTA.
Still, there’s no shame in this loss. Reaching the semifinals in Jingshan adds another solid chapter to Eala’s growing résumé. It’s evidence of her consistency on the tour, her ability to adapt to different surfaces, and her resilience against tough draws. And while the defeat stings, it also sharpens the rivalry narrative between her and Sun—a storyline fans will eagerly follow in future tournaments.
For now, Eala leaves Jingshan with valuable lessons, plenty of positives, and the certainty that her time in the spotlight is only beginning. Sun may have won this battle, but the war between these two rising stars is far from over. One thing’s clear: the next time Eala and Sun share a court, fireworks are guaranteed.
Musa
