Alex Eala loses early at Wuhan after surrendering a one-set lead

Alex Eala, a 21-year-old tennis player from the Philippines, lost to Chinese qualifier Han Chi at the Wuhan Open.

Eala won the first set but could not hold her advantage, and Han, ranked 217th, won the match.

It was Eala’s third straight defeat after taking the first set, following losses in Singapore and at the Asian Games.

The defeat came after a demanding 2026 season in which she played many tournaments and reached a career-high ranking.

She also won her first WTA Tour-level title and made notable runs at Wimbledon and the US Open.

The result ended her chance to take advantage of an opened-up draw in Wuhan after Linda Noskova withdrew.

The story suggests that a lighter schedule and more rest could help Eala next season, but it does not say what she plans to do.