Alex Eala’s Asian tennis journey has reached a dramatic turning point as the 20-year-old Filipino ace bowed out of the 2025 Wuhan Open qualifiers, falling to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in a grueling three-set battle, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, on Saturday evening in China. After a whirlwind week that saw Eala competing across three Chinese cities and enduring five consecutive three-set matches in just seven days, her Wuhan campaign came to an abrupt end—dashing hopes of a deep run at the season’s final WTA 1000 event.
Seeded fifth in the qualifying draw and ranked No. 58 in the world, Eala arrived in Wuhan with momentum—if not a bit of fatigue—after a quarterfinal run in the Suzhou Open WTA 125 just a day earlier. There, she had battled through three energy-sapping matches, including a round-of-16 marathon that stretched over three hours. Yet, the quick turnaround left little time for rest or reflection as she immediately boarded a flight to Wuhan, determined to seize a coveted spot in the main draw of this prestigious tournament.
Her first-round opponent, the 24-year-old Uchijima, brought her own set of credentials: world No. 92, a career-high ranking of No. 47 in May 2025, and fresh off a recent appearance at the US Open’s Round of 64. With only eight qualifier spots available in the 56-player singles field, the stakes were sky-high for both competitors. It was also their first career meeting—a matchup that promised intrigue and did not disappoint in intensity.
The contest began with Eala falling behind early in the opening set. Still, she showed her trademark grit, clawing back to level the score at 3-3. Just as the momentum seemed to shift, Uchijima reclaimed control, saving a crucial break point and ultimately taking the first set 6-4. According to Rappler, “Eala had her moments in the second set after breaking a 3-3 tie with three straight games to force an extender.” Indeed, the Filipino rallied, winning six of the next eight games in the second set to force a decider.
But the third set belonged to Uchijima. The Japanese player pounced on Eala’s missed opportunities, racing out to a 3-0 lead and holding firm despite Eala’s best efforts to mount a comeback. Eala managed to narrow the gap to 4-2, but Uchijima’s composure and relentless baseline play proved decisive. “The Japanese player punished Eala for missed chances throughout the third set, taking her opportunities in the process to dump out the 20-year-old and hugely boost her chances of appearing in Wuhan,” reported one source.
Statistically, the match was a testament to both players’ resilience and competitive fire. The encounter lasted 2 hours and 12 minutes, with Eala serving at a 74% first-serve rate and winning 66% of those points. Uchijima, meanwhile, converted 70% of her break points saved and won 77% of her service games. Each player notched an ace and a double fault, underscoring just how evenly matched they were for much of the contest. Yet, in the end, it was Uchijima’s steadier hand on key points that made the difference.
This loss marks the end of Eala’s run at the Wuhan Open, the final WTA 1000 event of the year—a tournament that has attracted a star-studded field, including reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka, as well as Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Amanda Anisimova. Notably, last year’s finalist Zheng Qinwen was forced to withdraw due to a right elbow injury, opening the door for new faces to make their mark. Qualifying for the main draw remains a fiercely competitive affair, with other young standouts like Iva Jovic and Bianca Andreescu advancing through their opening rounds.
For Eala, the Wuhan Open represented a return to the WTA 1000 stage for the first time since the Canadian Open in July, where she made a first-round exit. Her recent form had given fans reason for optimism: she captured her first WTA 125 title in Guadalajara earlier this season, and her performances in both Suzhou and the Jingshan Tennis Open late last month demonstrated her ability to compete with the sport’s rising stars. But the rigors of back-to-back tournaments and a relentless travel schedule appeared to take their toll.
“Some crazy matches this week. Back to the drawing board with a bit more experience and a lot of sweat lost,” Eala wrote in an Instagram post after her Suzhou campaign, hinting at both exhaustion and determination to improve. Her journey through China has been nothing short of a gauntlet: five three-set matches in seven days, culminating in a hard-fought loss to Uchijima that showcased her fighting spirit, if not the result she wanted.
Looking ahead, Eala is expected to drop a few spots from her current No. 58 ranking, but she’ll benefit from a rare nine-day break before heading to Osaka for the WTA 250 Japan Open, scheduled from October 13 to 19. The respite couldn’t come at a better time, offering a much-needed chance to recover and recalibrate for the final push of the season.
Meanwhile, the Wuhan Open’s main draw promises drama and high-stakes tennis, with the likes of Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Gauff all vying for the year’s last major title. For fans of Eala, the focus now shifts to her next challenge in Japan, where she’ll look to regroup and rediscover the form that propelled her to new heights earlier in 2025.
While her Wuhan journey ends sooner than hoped, Eala’s relentless drive and willingness to embrace tough competition continue to endear her to fans back home and around the world. The lessons learned in China—hard-fought, hard-earned, and sometimes hard to swallow—will surely fuel her next chapter on the WTA Tour. For now, she takes a well-deserved pause, eyes fixed firmly on Osaka and the opportunities that await.
