Full circle moment as Alex Eala wins opening match at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open

(Hong Kong) - The Philippines' Alex Eala had fans at the Centre Court at Victoria Park on their feet as she held off the challenge of British Katie Boulter in the first of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2025. 

The current world number 51 won 6-4, 2-1 after Boulter--a finalist in this tournament last year--was forced to retire due to an injury.

Eala displayed her shot-making skills, going for drops to change the tempo of the first set, on the way to breaking Boulter's serve in the 10th game. 

The second set started with both players losing serve until the third game where Eala was seemingly on her way to a love game when Boulter retired.

"I'm really happy to advance to the next round, obviously it's not in the way I wanted it to end," Eala said to the media. "Nevertheless, I think that I displayed a really high level of tennis and Katie did as well and I just hope that she is able to recover."

Eala aso said that she felt at home and felt loved playing at Centre Court, sharing that she used to play in Hong Kong when she was just 12. 

"This is my first time playing here as a professional... It's such a full circle moment to be here again," Eala said. 

As this is her final tournament of the year, Eala says that she does feel the effects of the load of her 2025 tennis season.

"But when I'm on the court, I feel it less, if that makes sense," she said. "I think this time is a difficult time for a lot of the players physically and mentally but at the end of the day we are professionals, we know how to handle these things." By Dexter R. Matilla