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Andrew Scott

Alexandra Eala rallied to beat China’s Zheng Qinwen in the first round at the Washington Open on Wednesday.
Making her debut in Washington, the world No 28 fought back to beat wild card Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in two hours and 26 minutes.
Eala will face defending champion and No 7 seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada for a place in the last eight.
The young rising star made global headlines earlier this month after beating Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon to become the first Philippines player to reach the last 16 of a grand slam.
The Filipino is happy with the mental and physical experiences she is gaining from coming up against top players, especially over three sets.
“I think it’s definitely a mindset that you have. That being said, I think it’s been trained or I’ve practised. I’ve had more experience now to implement that mindset at the higher level,” the 21-year-old said.

“That just comes also with the level of my tennis getting higher because you always want to win, and you always want to fight. But I think now with the progress I’ve had this past year, I have a bit more of ammunition to back it up,” Eala added.
At 4-3 in the second set, Zheng broke Eala to move within two games of victory. The former World No 4, now ranked No 123, had controlled much of the match after taking the opening set.
Eala, however, broke back, then won the next six games to complete a seven-game run that clinched the second set and gave her a 4-0 lead in the decider.
“I definitely think it helped,” Eala said of the break. “Maybe if I hadn’t gotten that break, who knows? Maybe it would have been too big of a gap. You never know in tennis, but that definitely helped me, I think.”
It was the first time Eala and Zheng had met on the tour, though Zheng won their 2023 Asian Games semi-final 6-1, 6-7, 6-3.
Chinese tennis fans had mixed reactions to Zheng’s latest setback.
“It’s mostly down to mentality, mentality, mentality!!! She needs that big-picture mindset of playing to win without being afraid to lose before she can make a breakthrough and turn things around,” one comment said.
One reply offered a different view: “Isn’t it down to technique though?”
Some fans have decided enough is enough and it was now time to stop watching Zheng struggle to reach her previous levels on the tour.
“As a real fan, I’ve decided to stop watching Qinwen’s matches for now. Giving myself a break for a while,” one said.
In better news for mainland tennis fans, Wang Xinyu saved three set points to beat 17-year-old American qualifier Julieta Pareja (7) 7-6, 6-3 in the first round. She will face Russian Liudmila Samsonova on Wednesday for a place in the last eight.


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WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Filipino tennis star Alexandra Eala stuns Zheng Qinwen in thrilling Washington Open debut

Alexandra Eala made global headlines earlier this month after beating Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon to become the first Philippines player to reach the last 16 of a grand slam. Photo: AFP

Zheng Qinwen looked in control of the match after taking the opening set. Photo: AFP

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Zheng Qinwen faces the real possibility that she will have to go through the qualifiers for the US Open. Photo: Getty Images

Zheng Qinwen still has the backing of fans despite the latest setback. Photo: Getty Images

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Hong Kong’s men (from left) Ryan Choi, Leung Chin-yu, Harris Ho and Cheung Ka-long acknowledge their supporters after winning silver. Photo: Elson Li

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Sport

Tennis

Another Chinese player, Wang Xinyu, fared better, saving three set points to beat 17-year-old American qualifier Julieta Pareja


Another Chinese player, Wang Xinyu, fared better, saving three set points to beat 17-year-old American qualifier Julieta Pareja.


Zheng Qinwen

Alexandra Eala

Filipino tennis star Alexandra Eala stuns Zheng Qinwen in thrilling Washington Open debut

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Another Chinese player, Wang Xinyu, fared better, saving three set points to beat 17-year-old American qualifier Julieta Pareja

Another Chinese player, Wang Xinyu, fared better, saving three set points to beat 17-year-old American qualifier Julieta Pareja