Sport · Singapore Bureau
Wang stuns Eala to claim Asian Games tennis gold in Nagoya
Chinese player Wang Xiyu upset top-seeded Filipino Alex Eala in the women's singles final at the Asian Games on Thursday, denying the rising star a maiden continental title and Olympic qualification opportunity.
LSN Singapore ·
NAGOYA — Wang Xiyu of China delivered a stunning upset victory over the Philippines' Alex Eala in the women's tennis final at the ongoing Asian Games, claiming the gold medal with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph on Thursday.
Eala, seeded first in the competition, had entered the Nagoya final as the overwhelming favourite, seeking to secure her first Asian Games gold medal while also earning a berth in next year's Los Angeles Olympics tennis tournament.
The Chinese challenger's spirited comeback proved decisive, as she weathered a first-set deficit to dominate proceedings in the second and third sets. Wang's aggressive play and consistent serving overwhelmed Eala's earlier momentum, allowing the unseeded competitor to seize control of the match.
The loss marks a significant setback for Eala's campaign to claim marquee titles on the continental stage. The Filipino player had been widely tipped as the gold medal favourite heading into the Games, where tennis occupies a prominent position in the overall medal standings.
With the result, Wang secured China's continued strength in Asian Games tennis, while Eala will look to regroup and pursue Olympic qualification through alternative pathways in the coming months.