LIVE: Alex Eala vs Zhang Shuai – HSBC Championships Round of 32
- After winning the Birmingham Open title, Alex Eala is back in action against China’s Zhang Shuai in the WTA 500 HSBC Championships Round of 32 in London.
HSBC Championships schedule
- 10:20 p.m. – Alex Eala vs Zhang Shuai – round of 32
LIVE: Alex Eala vs Zhang Shuai – HSBC Championships
Alex Eala handles Zhang Shuai, rolls into rematch vs Iva Jovic
FILE–Alex Eala in action during the WTA 125 Birmingham Open. –BIRMINGHAM OPEN/LTA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala shook off a slow start then steamrolled an erratic Zhang Shuai, 6-3, 6-2, in a resounding main draw debut at the HSBC Championships in London.
Just days removed from a title run in the Birmingham Open, Eala picked up where she left off and booked a rematch with her close friend Iva Jovic in the round of 16.
Eala was beaten by Jovic in the first round of the French Open two weeks ago.
Into the Round of 16! 👏
Alex Eala flies through her opening round match at @QueensTennis, defeating Zhang 6-3, 6-2.#HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/SuareH326h
— wta (@WTA) June 9, 2026
ANOTHER ONE! 🎉
FINAL: Alex Eala moves on to the round of 16 after defeating Zhang Shuai at the HSBC Championships, 6-3, 6-2.
Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/1RIBaZ99We pic.twitter.com/hhFXDjIUcU
ADVERTISEMENT— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) June 9, 2026
- FINAL: Alex Eala handles Zhang Shuai, 6-3, 6-2, to advance to the round of 16 vs Iva Jovic.
- Eala ends the match in emphatic fashion, blanking Zhang.
- Eala breaks again, 5-2.
- Eala serves to love, 4-2
- Eala again up 40-0
- Zhang fights back with five straight points to pull within, 2-3.
- Zhang saves three break points, 40-all
- Eala pouring it on, 40-0.
- Eala ace, serves to love, 3-1
- Eala backhand winner, 40-0.
- Zhang back-to-back errors. Eala 30-0
- Eala breaks, 2-1
- Eala third break point
- Zhang advantage
- Zhang smash, deuce
- Eala break point advantage
- Eala break point, Zhang deuce
- Zhang breaks, 1-1
- Zhang down the line, break point advantage
- Zhang short. Eala breaks to love, 1-0.
- Zhang double fault. Eala break point, 40-0
- Eala fought back from 0-2 down
- Eala attacks the net and takes the opener, 6-3.
- Eala back with the upper hand
- Fifth deuce after Zhang’s attempt goes out.
- Back-and-forth continues. Zhang takes the advantage
- Eala set point advantage
- Zhang break point, 40-30
- Eala serving for the set
- Eala making the right read, then goes cross court to break Zhang again, 5-3
- Eala break point but Zhang forces the deuce.
- Zhang out. Eala hangs on to hold serve, 4-3.
- Zhang return is short. Eala advantage
- Zhang out. deuce
- Eala double fault. Zhang at break point, 40-30
- Zhang stops the bleeding, 3-3
- Zhang ace. 40-15
- Eala on a roll, she makes it three in a row, 3-2.
- More errors for Zhang. Eala 40-0
- Errors piling up for Zhang. Eala breaks to equalize, 2-2.
- Eala on the board, trailing 2-1.
- Another ace for Eala, 30-15.
- Zhang maintains her momentum as she serves to love for a 2-0 edge.
- Good start for Zhang, who gets the break on the first game, 1-0.
- Zhang break point advantage
- Eala wide. Zhang at break point.
- Eala with an early ace, 30-all
- Eala opens the scoring with a forehand winner.
- Winner of this match takes on Iva Jovic in the round of 16. Jovic, Eala’s good friend, eliminated the Filipino in the French Open first round two weeks ago.
- Eala back to being World No. 33, Zhang ranked 64th.
- Alex Eala and Zhang Shuai warming up.
Alex Eala, fresh off title, plays Zhang Shuai at Queen’s Club
The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala celebrates winning her women’s singles final match against Nikola Bartunkova on day nine of the Lexus Birmingham Open Championships at Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, England, Sunday June 7, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala jumped four places to World No. 33 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings ahead of her campaign at the HSBC Championships, formerly known as the Queen’s Club Championships, in London.
After winning the title in the WTA 125 Birmingham Open on Sunday night, Eala wastes no time and gets back into action on Tuesday in the main draw of the Queen’s Club Championships.
The 21-year-old Eala battles China’s Zhang Shuai, who’s ranked 64th, in the round of 32.
Eala survived Czech Nikola Bartunkova, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, in the Birmingham final for her first victory against a Czech in 14 tries since turning pro in 2020.
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