Alex Eala beats Antonia Ruzic in a rain-delayed Hong Kong Open quarterfinal to reach the semis
Alex Eala beat Croatia's Antonia Ruzic 7-6(7), 7-5 in a rain-delayed Hong Kong Tennis Open quarterfinal on 6 November and will face Maria Sakkari in the semifinals, according to GMA News Online and Philstar.com.
Alex Eala defeated Croatia's Antonia Ruzic 7-6(7), 7-5 in the Hong Kong Tennis Open quarterfinals on Friday evening, advancing to the semifinals, GMA News Online and Philstar.com reported on 6 November.
The match at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open was rain-delayed in the second set. Tennis Majors listed the quarterfinal as lasting 2 hours and 33 minutes.
First set and the tiebreak
According to GMA News, Eala held a 3-2 lead in the opening set before Ruzic took the next two games. Eala leveled, Ruzic edged ahead again, and Eala forced a 6-6 deadlock. In the tiebreak, Eala raced to a 5-0 lead, Ruzic clawed back to 7-6, and Eala won the next three points to take the set.
Philstar.com said the first-set tiebreak alone came after an hour and 20 minutes, and described Eala as the world No. 17.
Rain delay, then the finish
GMA News said Eala led 4-2 in the second set before rain suspended play during the eighth game. Philstar.com wrote that Ruzic was leading 40-30 in that eighth game when play stopped, then went up 5-4 after the restart before Eala won the next three games to close 7-5.
Philstar.com also listed the match stats as 40 winners for Eala against 33 for Ruzic, and 47 unforced errors for Eala against 43 for Ruzic.
Sakkari next
"It was a rollercoaster, for sure, and an incredible battle," Eala told GMA News. "I don't know what inspired me or kept me to continue digging deeper, but Antonia played a really amazing match, and I'm blessed to be able to play another round here."
GMA News and Philstar.com said Eala will next face Greece's Maria Sakkari for a place in the final. Philstar.com reported that Sakkari, ranked 30th, had beaten Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-3 earlier in the day.
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- GMA News Online reported on 6 November 2026 that Alex Eala defeated Antonia Ruzic 7-6(7), 7-5 in the Hong Kong Tennis Open quarterfinals to reach the semifinals.
- Philstar.com reported the same 7-6(7), 7-5 quarterfinal score on 6 November 2026 and called the match rain-delayed.
- Tennis Majors listed the quarterfinal result as Alexandra Eala beating Antonia Ruzic 7-6, 7-5 on 6 November 2026, duration 2h33.
- GMA News said rain suspended play during the eighth game of the second set; Philstar.com said Ruzic led 40-30 in that game when play stopped and later led 5-4 before Eala closed the set.
- GMA News and Philstar.com said Eala's semifinal opponent is Greece's Maria Sakkari; Philstar.com reported Sakkari beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-3.
Official sources
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