ALEXANDRA Eala was quick to dismiss the idea that her early exit from the Singapore Tennis Open could be a “blessing in disguise” ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
Eala fell to Russia’s Tatiana Prozorova in the round of 16 on Thursday, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, ending her final WTA tournament before the continental competition.
Asked if the defeat could work in her favor by giving her more time to prepare for the Asian Games, Eala said she would rather focus on what she could learn from the loss.
“It’s hard to see a loss as a blessing in disguise. Sorry. I was not expecting that question. I would’ve wanted to win today. I would’ve wanted to go further in the tournament,” Eala said.
She added that the circumstances surrounding the loss were less important to her than using the experience to prepare for her next assignment.
“But whether it’s a blessing in disguise or not doesn’t matter at present. What matters to me is learning from this loss and preparing for my next match,” she said.
With the Asian Games scheduled to begin Sunday, Eala said she would look into her flight options and travel to Japan as soon as possible.
The Filipina opted to represent the Philippines in the Asian Games instead of playing in the China Open, making the Nagoya event her next major competition following her Singapore campaign.
She is seeking to improve on the bronze medal she won at the previous Asian Games. (Adrian Co)
