AdeFilipina tennis star Alexandra “Alex” Eala saw her impressive run at the Suzhou Open (WTA 125) come to a painful halt on Friday, after bowing out in a dramatic quarterfinal clash against Swiss veteran Viktorija Golubic. Eala, who had been riding strong momentum from earlier victories, came within a single point of reaching the semifinals—only to see her hopes vanish in a deciding tiebreaker.
Eala stormed out of the gates with confidence, winning the opening set 6–2 behind her crisp groundstrokes and aggressive shot-making. Her energy seemed to overwhelm Golubic, a former world No. 35, who struggled to find rhythm early on. But as the second set unfolded, the Swiss found her footing, breaking Eala’s serve repeatedly to flip the momentum. Golubic dominated the frame, 6–2, forcing the match into a tense decider.
The third set was nothing short of nerve-wracking. Both players held serve in pressure-filled games, trading winners and forcing long rallies that kept fans on the edge of their seats. At 6–5, Eala found herself within touching distance of victory, even holding match point. But Golubic showed the composure of a seasoned campaigner, saving it with fearless shot-making and dragging the match into a tiebreaker.
From there, the Swiss was untouchable. Golubic raced through the tiebreak 7–0, leaving Eala stunned and just a single point shy of what could have been a career-boosting semifinal berth. The final scoreline read 2–6, 6–2, 7–6(0) in Golubic’s favor.
While the loss was heartbreaking, it also underscored how far the 19-year-old Filipina has come. Pushing a player of Golubic’s caliber to the brink is a testament to her growing maturity and resilience on the court. These kinds of razor-thin battles are often defining moments for rising stars, sharpening their ability to handle high-pressure situations in future matches.
Despite the disappointment, Eala’s Suzhou campaign remains a success. She notched valuable ranking points, gained more experience against top-tier opposition, and displayed the kind of grit that has made her one of the most promising young talents in women’s tennis.
For Eala, the key takeaway will be learning to convert opportunities when they present themselves. That single missed point may sting today, but it also serves as fuel for her growth. With her relentless work ethic and improving consistency, she is inching closer to breaking through deeper into WTA-level events.
As the Suzhou Open moves on without her, one thing is clear—Alex Eala’s time is coming. This narrow defeat may hurt now, but it’s also proof that she belongs among the best, and her next breakthrough could be just around the corner.l
Musa
John Owolabi
