“Dad, what am I doing wrong?” – Alex Eala breaks down after failing to secure Asian Games gold for the Philippines
Alex Eala recently made a semifinal exit at the 2026 Asian Games. As the Filipino star failed to secure a gold medal for her country, she reportedly broke down and turned to her dad for advice during a heart wrenching moment.
Eala arrived at the 2026 Asian Games as the top seed and a front-runner for a gold medal finish. The 21-year-old began her campaign in Nagoya with a dominant win over Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej, before going on to outdo Taiwanese player Joanna Garland.
On Thursday, October 1, Alex Eala took on World No. 85 Wang Xiyu for her semifinal encounter at the Games. While the WTA star had a dominant start to the battle, she eventually fell short 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. According to GMA News, Eala broke down after the loss, asking her father,
“Dad, what am I doing wrong?”
For Eala, her semifinal appearance at the 2026 Asian Games marks her second-consecutive bronze medal finish at the event.
Alex Eala reflects on her Asian Games loss
Alex Eala entered the Asian Games as the World No. 18 and a clear favorite for the gold medal. The Filipino star lived up to expectations in the first few rounds, clinching straight-set wins with ease over players like Patcharin Cheapchandej and Joanna Garland.
In her semifinal match, Eala had a similarly dominant start, racing away to a 5-0 lead in the first set. However, Wang Xiyu slowly began to claw her way back into the match, and the Chinese player eventually triumphed in a battle that lasted two and a half hours.
Reflecting on her loss after the match, Eala told media,
“Yeah, of course (I am) disappointed. It’s hard right after the match. I will have to process the emotions and process the match. I just think I take away a great experience. Of course, some lessons that I have to process.”
The 21-year-old went on to praise Xiyu, adding,
“I think she was more consistent. I think I had a couple of ups and downs during the match, and that’s something I have to talk with my team about and process. I think everyone’s constantly trying to find their way around the court and what works for them. But I think she played really well today. I feel like I have no regrets.”
Up next, Alex Eala will return to action on the WTA Tour at the Wuhan Open. The tournament takes place between October 12 and 18, with the entry list featuring several top players like Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and more.
