Alex Eala makes more history at Naomi Osaka’s expense after ‘rollercoaster’ Hong Kong win

Alex Eala reached a new career-high ranking after battling past Antonia Ruzic in the quarter-finals of the Hong Kong Open on Friday.

Heading into this encounter, Eala sat 17th in the world but a win over the world No 76 at the WTA 250 event would see her overtake the 16th-ranked Naomi Osaka.

As has often been the case this week, though, that was no easy task for the left-hander. After an even first six games, both players broke each other’s serve on three straight occasions as the Croatian twice failed to serve out the opening set at 5-4 and 6-5.

For the second match running, Eala raced into a 5-0 lead in the tiebreak but a mixture of sloppy play and her opponent raising her game saw that lead evaporate.

Two set points came and went before the Filipina saved one of her own, and then after a gruelling one hour and 20 minutes, she eventually took the opener 7-6 (7) to the delight of the pro-Eala crowd.

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Both players were having difficulty holding their serve as the pair exchanged breaks early in the second set. The 21-year-old finally managed to give herself a bit of breathing space after going 4-2 up but more twists and turns were ahead.

Indeed, when the second seed was facing a break point at 4-3 up, the contest was paused due to some light rain, before play was suspended.

Following a near 30-minute delay, the 23-year-old, whose career-high ranking is 50, broke back to make it 4-4 and then Eala had to serve to stay in the second set.

The Washington Open champion, however, reeled off three straight games to win 7-6 (7) 7-5 in two hours and 13 minutes, in a match where there were a combined 29 break points.

Following the victory, she said in her on-court interview, “It was a rollercoaster for sure and an incredible battle. I don’t know what inspired me or kept me digging deeper, but Antonia played a really amazing match, and I am blessed to be able to play another round here.

“When you are on court, there is not much else you can think about except how to play. More than staying focused, it was choosing to push through and give everything that I have.”

Eala will face Greek star Maria Sakkari in what will be her first semi-final at the Hong Kong Open in her career.

Following this win, Eala pockets 98 ranking points and £9,156 in prize money. She is now at a career-high ranking of 16 with 2,327 points, just 12 ahead of Osaka in 17th.

With top seed Sorana Cirstea’s quarter-final loss in Hong Kong, Eala can climb to 15th in the rankings if she beats world No 29 Sakkari on Saturday in the semi-finals.

Eala was already the Philippines’ most successful player ever, and now she has made more history with this ranking rise.

READ NEXT: Grand Slam winner reveals why Alex Eala’s rise is her favourite tennis story of 2026

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