Alex Eala's bid for an Asian Games gold medal and a potential spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics tennis tournament was halted on Thursday as she lost to China's Wang Xiyu in the semifinals. The world number 85 Wang staged a comeback, defeating the top-seeded Filipino 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center.

Eala, a prominent figure in Southeast Asian tennis and the Philippines' first WTA title winner, was vying for a maiden Asian Games singles gold. Her loss means she will secure her second singles bronze medal, and third overall, adding to the mixed doubles bronze she won at the Hangzhou games three years prior.

The 21-year-old had opted to represent the Philippines at the games, foregoing ranking points and prize money from the concurrent China Open in Beijing. She acknowledged the WTA's rules and the possibility of a fine and ranking penalty for skipping the mandatory event, but expressed no regrets about her decision.

"I'm really happy to have experienced this, to experience the support … and to be with the team and, yeah, to compete for the country," Eala stated after the match. She noted that her level of play fluctuated during the contest, particularly in the second and third sets.

Wang Xiyu, ranked 85th in the world, demonstrated resilience, fighting off break points from Eala in the decisive third set before serving out the match. Eala reflected that her opponent was "more consistent" and that she experienced "ups and downs" during their encounter, which she intends to discuss with her team.

The all-Chinese final will feature Wang Xiyu against veteran Zhang Shuai. Zhang, a former quarterfinalist at Wimbledon and the Australian Open, advanced by defeating Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 6-2. Zhang has a history of success at the Asian Games, having won a silver medal in singles in 2018 and a team gold in 2010.

Despite being in her 40s, Zhang indicated a possibility of competing in future games, stating her determination as long as she doesn't "give up on yourself." Her experience and past performances suggest a challenging final for Wang Xiyu.

Eala's decision to prioritize the Asian Games over the China Open highlights a commitment to national representation, even with potential professional repercussions. The outcome leaves the gold medal match between two Chinese players and sees Eala aiming for a bronze.