Tearful Alex Eala loses Hong Kong Open final to Claire Liu in straight sets

Filipina Alex Eala lost the Hong Kong Open final to American Claire Liu, who won 6-3, 6-0 for her first WTA Tour title. Eala became emotional after the match and described the season as one that had changed her life, while expressing pride in the work she and her team had put in. The 21-year-old won her maiden WTA title in Washington in August, becoming the first Filipino player to win a tour event. Ranked a career-high 17th, she was set to rise to world number 15 the following week.