Alex Eala: ‘No Regrets’ Ahead of Hong Kong Opener vs Parks

Alexandra Eala has reached the last stop of her 2026 season, and she says she gets there with nothing left undone. Speaking to the press on Sunday at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open (WTA 250, Victoria Park, 2–8 November), the No. 2 seed looked back on her breakout year and ahead to a third meeting this season with Alycia Parks on Tuesday.

"I'm super proud of this whole year … and I'm coming into the last tournament of the season with no regrets. I've done everything I could have possibly done." — Alex Eala, pre-tournament press conference

Watch the full press conference on Rally Scene Video: Alex Eala speaks in Hong Kong ahead of Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open (Tennis Asia TV). The original upload is also on YouTube.

"More than I expected"

Eala started 2026 ranked around No. 50. Since then she has won her first WTA title in Washington, reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and climbed into the top 20. Only top seed Sorana Cîrstea is ranked higher in this week's field. A year ago she arrived in Hong Kong unseeded.

Asked whether the year had surprised her, she said:

"I definitely think it was more than I expected to achieve. With each milestone that I've had this year … the more I realize how difficult it is to achieve said milestones and hold my position on the rankings, on the tour, and in various places. So I'm really appreciative of the whole journey that I've had this season and the work that my team and I have put in."

A long season, and a fresh push

The autumn has been uneven. Eala lost her openers in Singapore and Wuhan before a run to the quarterfinals in Tokyo last week, which ended in a three-set loss to Diana Shnaider. She called the ups and downs natural over a long year and credited her team with managing her schedule, with health "at the forefront" both mentally and physically.

Rest can wait one more week:

"I'm still definitely very motivated, coming off a great week last week. But rest is also very important … that's something to think about when I'm out of the tournament. Right now, my mind is preoccupied with how I can prepare in the best way and compete, and be ready to fight."

On rising expectations, she said that showing a higher level also raises what the sport demands of her. High standards matter, she said, but so does understanding "that it takes a lot of work" to produce that level every time.

Tuesday: the Parks trilogy

Eala opens against Alycia Parks of the USA on Tuesday, 3 November. They are 1–1 this year:

• Australian Open: Parks won 0–6, 6–3, 6–2.
• Canadian Open (Toronto): Eala won 6–1, 4–6, 6–2.

The match is third on Centre Court, scheduled not before 6:30 PM Hong Kong time (also 6:30 PM in Manila). It follows Talia Gibson vs Oleksandra Oliynykova and Sorana Cîrstea vs Maria Timofeeva, so the actual start depends on how long those matches run. Check the official order of play on the day.

What's next if she wins

There has been a change in her section since the draw came out. Xinran Sun has withdrawn with a lower-limb injury. The winner of Eala vs Parks now meets qualifier Himeno Sakatsume or Tereza Valentova, who also play their first-round match on Tuesday.

Last year in Hong Kong, Eala beat Katie Boulter, who retired in the second set, before losing in the second round to Victoria Mboko, the eventual champion. Mboko is not back to defend her title this year.

One more thing: Mulan or Pocahontas?

Eala did not have time for a Halloween party in Hong Kong, but she has costume ideas for next time: Tigress from Kung Fu Panda, Vanellope von Schweetz from Wreck-It Ralph, or Pocahontas. She and her coach are still debating whether she looks more like Pocahontas or Mulan, and she asked fans to weigh in.

At a glance

Follow live results on Rally's Alex Eala tracker. For a breakdown of the draw itself, see Cam Williams on Eala's tricky Hong Kong draw. Press conference quotes are from the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association, with more coverage from Tennishead via Yahoo Sports and Tennis365.