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Alex Eala encouraged to end her season early after shock defeat in Wuhan

Filipina tennis star **Alex Eala** suffered an unexpected first-round exit at the **Wuhan Open** after falling to unseeded Chinese qualifier **Shi Han** in straight sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. The 21-year-old Shi, ranked 217th globally, turned a set deficit into victory, advancing to face Leylah Fernandez in the second round.

Eala’s form has been shaky this season, marking her second straight loss to a player outside the top 100 after a defeat to world No. 117 Tatiana Prozorova at the Singapore Open last month.

With fans urging her to prioritize rest and mental recovery, Eala remains committed to three more tournaments—including the WTA 500 events in Ningbo and Tokyo—before concluding her 2026 campaign in Hong Kong. Despite her current struggles, including serve consistency and endurance, her team has signaled a focus on addressing these issues ahead of next year’s campaign, where she aims to reassert herself as a top-20 player.

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