Hong Kong (AFP) - American Claire Liu, ranked 102nd in the world, won the first title in her professional career after sweeping the Philippines' Alexandra Eala, seventeenth in the world and second in the tournament, 6-3, 6-0 on Sunday in the final match of the Hong Kong tournament (250 points).
Published on: 08/11/2026 - 11:53 Last updated: 08/11/2026 - 13:14
The 26-year-old American player, who won the Wimbledon junior women's title in 2017, was unable to confirm her talent at the highest levels, as her best ranking in her career was 52nd in the world.
In the Hong Kong final, Liu achieved a huge surprise and left no opportunity for her young competitor, 21-year-old Ayala, who was wearing a large bandage on her right knee.
Despite entering the match as the underdog, Liu succeeded in breaking her opponent's serve in the eighth game of the first set and led 5-3 at Victoria Park.
The American wasted the first point to decide the group, but she took advantage of the second, stunning the large numbers of Eala fans in the stands.
Eala, who needed medical treatment, was exposed to early pressure on her serve at the start of the second set.
Liu eventually succeeded in breaking her opponent's serve after a long and arduous opening game, and took the lead, and with it, Ayala's resistance collapsed.
Eala, who reached the best ranking in her career by ranking 17th in the world, was looking forward to adding a new title to her record after winning the Washington tournament in August.
That victory made her the first player from the Philippines to win a title on the WTA Tour.
Eala is scheduled to rise to fifteenth place in the world next week, after starting the year in fiftieth place.
“This season has changed my life, and changed it for the better,” she told the fans after the match, her right leg wrapped in thick bandages.
She added emotionally as she addressed her team members in the stands: “I am very proud of the work we have done this year. We are the only ones who truly know what it took to get to this stage of our journey. This is just the beginning.”
© 2026 AFP
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