Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

By Raymond Reyes

Alex Eala bowed out of the Auckland Open following a 7-5, 5-7, 4-6 semifinal loss, but her tormentor, China’s Wang Xinyu, had high praise for the 20-year-old tennis star.

“She’s an absolute fighter,” Wang said on Saturday at Center Court of the Manuka Doctor Arena in New Zealand after advancing to the ASB Classic finals.

Wang witnessed firsthand Eala’s resilience, as the Filipina clawed back from 1-5 deficits in both the opening set and the deciding third set. The 24-year-old admitted that Eala’s refusal to go away pushed her to the limit.

“I felt a lot of pressure when we kept going back and forth,” Wang said.

Unfortunately for Eala, she was unable to capitalize on multiple chances to seal the victory in the second set, while Wang’s 10 aces and conversion of seven of her 15 break-point opportunities proved decisive.

Wang now awaits the winner of the other semifinal between American Iva Jovic, Eala’s partner in the women’s doubles, and Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.

—JMS, Alta Sports