Alex Eala showed maturity beyond her years when discussing goals for 2027 after breakthrough season
After her season-ending loss to Claire Liu in the Hong Kong Open final, Alex Eala has discussed plans to become 'the best version of herself' in 2027.
Her words arrived after losing 3-6, 0-6 in the WTA event’s final to Liu. At 3-4 in the first, Eala gestured for a medical time-out – lending credence to Taylor Fritz’s major tennis issue theory – after this break, the Filipina failed to win another game.
That defeat denied her a second Tour-level title — her first came in Washington’s WTA 500 event this summer — but Eala is adamant she will strive to reach even greater heights next year.
READ MORE: Taylor Fritz says what everyone is thinking about major tennis issue as Alex Eala suffers in final
Alex Eala discusses “best version of myself” for 2027
The 21-year-old’s 2026 campaign ranks high among the WTA’s all-time great breakout seasons, starting outside the top-50, and ending her year at world No. 15.
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Eala, who was sent a touching message by her Open final opponent, is guaranteed to finish 2026 within the ranking’s top-15 players – even if she had defeated Liu in Hong Kong, the Filipina star would not have moved higher than 15th.
Other notable results include a career-best Slam run at Wimbledon, during which she made the grass-court event’s Round of 16, and a 125 Challenger title, also on the green, in Birmingham.
Speaking after her loss to Liu, as relayed by Tennis World, the Filipina tennis star looked ahead to 2027, admitting that she isn’t yet the finished product and must “become a better player.”
“I strive to be the best version of myself,” confessed Eala. “I, like every year, of course, want to continue to become a better player.”
On what she hopes to have experienced come 2027’s end, the Filipina said: “I guess that, in that moment in time, [to be] what the best version of myself looks like.”
READ MORE: Alex Eala and her fans sent touching message by Claire Liu after Hong Kong Open final win
When will Alex Eala play again in 2027 and what are her goals?
On whether she has any “concrete” goals for 2027, the Filipina confessed she’s yet to start thinking about the upcoming WTA season.
“Truth be told, I definitely have not thought about a concrete goal for next year,” admitted Eala. “I’ve been pushing back, really enjoying the fruits of my labour this year.
“Just because it’s been one [tournament after the other],” continued the 21-year-old, who clarified again that she isn’t yet thinking of 2027. “This is my time to just be happy, enjoy, and stay in the present.”
Eala is set to play again early on in 2027’s schedule, in just the first week of January. In October, the 21-year-old was confirmed to partake in ASB Classic tennis, in Auckland, which runs from January 4 to 10.
The Filipina began her 2026 season at the same event, eventually losing to Wang Xinyu in semi-finals.
One potential goal of Eala’s could be to qualify for the WTA Finals – from which reigning champion Elena Rybakina withdrew, sacrificing staggering paydays even amid a 35% prize reduction — by concluding 2027 in the world’s top-8.
Kedar Bayley
