Alex Eala exits in the quarterfinals of the Suzhou Open WTA 125 as Viktorija Golubic rallies for the 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (0) victory.
Alex Eala’s Suzhou Run Ends in Heartbreaker: Golubic Rallies for 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(0) Win
Suzhou, China — October 3, 2025 — Philippine tennis hopeful Alexandra “Alex” Eala was left to rue a missed opportunity after bowing out of the Suzhou Open WTA 125 in a stirring quarterfinal battle. Facing Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic, Eala surrendered after three tense sets, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(0).
First Set: Eala Starts Strong
Eala came out firing in the opening set, breaking Golubic’s serve early and riding that momentum to a commanding 6-2 win. Her groundstrokes were sharp, her serve dependable, and she looked in control of the match’s tempo.
Second Set: Momentum Shifts
But as the match progressed, Golubic found her rhythm. The Swiss veteran flipped the script in the second set, taking it 6-2. She tightened her defense, made Eala work for every point, and steadily chipped away at the lead. Eala’s errors crept in, and Golubic pounced.
Deciding Set: Nerve-Wracking Tiebreak Finish
The third set was a tug-of-war. Golubic surged ahead to 5-3, but Eala stormed back with grit, winning three straight games to lead 6-5. Just when it seemed Eala might seize the match, Golubic held serve and forced a tiebreak.
In the tiebreak, Eala was unable to convert any match points. Golubic piled on the pressure and ultimately closed it out 7-0 in the breaker. The final scoreline read 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(0).
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What This Means for Eala’s Campaign
Eala’s run in Suzhou included earlier wins over Katarzyna Kawa in Round of 32 and Greet Minnen in Round of 16.
With this quarterfinal exit, she misses the chance to face Tatjana Maria (Germany) in the semifinals.
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The loss came in a tightly contested 2-hour and 21-minute match — another test of her mental and physical stamina.
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This marks another quarterfinal exit for Eala during her Asian swing.
Lessons & Looking Forward
Eala showed what she’s capable of — resilience, fight, and flashes of brilliance. But tennis is as much about closing out matches as it is about winning sets. A few key takeaways:
Closing out pressure moments: The tiebreak was decisive, and Golubic delivered. Eala may want to work further on mental toughness and clutch-point scenarios.
Maintain consistency: That second set swing highlighted how momentum in tennis can shift quickly.
Use this as fuel: Every tough loss can be a building block. Eala is still young, with room to grow, learn, and rebound.
Though she exited before the semis, Eala’s performance in Suzhou is another sign she’s inching closer to the higher tiers of the WTA circuit. With more experience, those matches might tip her way.
