Alex Eala's run at the Ningbo Open ended on Thursday, October 22, when the Filipina fell to sixth seed Diana Shnaider of Russia, 7-5, 6-4, in a round-of-16 match that lasted one hour and 55 minutes at the Ningbo Tennis Center in China.
It was the first meeting between the two left-handers, and according to CDN Digital, the match was far closer than the straight-sets scoreline suggests. Eala saved five match points before Shnaider closed the contest with an ace.
A fight from the first ball to the last
Both players held their first four service games before Eala found herself staring at three break points in the fifth. She saved two of them, then pushed a forehand wide to surrender the first break of the match.
Serving for the set at 5-4, Shnaider had her chance. Eala refused. She broke back with a cross-court forehand that the Russian could only dump into the net.
Shnaider earned the break again at 6-5 and took the first set 7-5 in 50 minutes, converting her third set point after Eala had saved two.
Trading breaks in the second set
The second set became a slugfest of service breaks. Shnaider broke immediately with a backhand to the body, Eala broke back, Shnaider broke again, and Eala answered with a quick forehand volley that landed out of reach.
At 2-2, Shnaider lined up three more break points and took a 3-2 lead. Eala broke back once more for 3-3 and held serve for the first time in the set to go up 4-3.
Shnaider held, broke again, and served for the match at 5-4. Eala saved four match points in that final game, showing the grit Filipino fans have come to expect from her, but Shnaider held her nerve and finished it with an ace.
Shnaider's respect for the Filipina
Definitely Alex is very dangerous as a lefty player and a big hitter, Shnaider said in her post-match interview. She never backs down. So, I'm very proud and happy with the way I played today.
Shnaider knows this court well. She reached the Ningbo final in 2023, when the event was still a WTA 250 tournament, losing that year to Ons Jabeur, a former WTA No. 2. Now ranked No. 13 in the world, she can pick up 500 ranking points if she wins the title this week, as GMA News Online reported in its preview of the second-round showdown.
What the loss means for Eala
The defeat ends Eala's campaign in China, but the manner of it should encourage her supporters back home. She pushed a top-15 opponent to the wire in their first meeting, and she did it with the baseline power game that has carried her rise through the rankings.
Rappler reported the loss as the close of Eala's Ningbo Open bid, and the round-of-16 exit at a WTA 500-level event remains a solid result for a player still building her resume at this tier.
Who is left in the Ningbo draw
Shnaider moves on to a quarterfinal against Iva Jovic, who eliminated Jasmine Paolini in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, earlier in the day. Jovic is one of only two higher-ranked players remaining in the draw.
Defending champion and WTA No. 1 Elena Rybakina is still alive. She must first get past Polina Kudermetova to reach the quarters, where Poland's Katarzyna Kawa, 33, waits.
Leylah Fernandez beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich in three sets, 7-5, 6-7, 6-3, and will face Ekaterina Alexandrova next. Alexandrova advanced after third seed Marta Kostyuk retired with a possible wrist injury, a result that effectively ended Kostyuk's hopes of reaching the WTA Finals in Indian Wells in November.
Sara Bejlek and Marie Bouzkova also booked quarterfinal spots, beating Sorana Cirstea and Anastasia Zakharova respectively in straight sets.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score of Alex Eala vs Diana Shnaider?
Shnaider won 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 55 minutes, closing the match with an ace after Eala had saved five match points.
When did Alex Eala lose at the Ningbo Open?
Eala lost her round-of-16 match on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at the Ningbo Tennis Center in China.
Who does Diana Shnaider play next?
Shnaider faces Iva Jovic in the quarterfinals. Jovic beat Jasmine Paolini 6-4, 6-3 earlier the same day.
Has Diana Shnaider reached a Ningbo final before?
Yes. She was the 2023 finalist, losing to Ons Jabeur when the event was still a WTA 250 tournament.