Alexandra Eala gave Diana Shnaider all she could handle before falling 7-5, 6-4 in the second round of the 2026 Ningbo Open on Thursday. The sixth-seeded Shnaider needed seven match points to seal her win over the Filipina breakout star in the pair's first WTA Tour-level head-to-head.
Alex Eala Fights Off Multiple Match Points Before Shnaider Finds Win
Even after Shnaider broke to take a 5-4 lead in the second set, Eala dug in. She saved six match points across the final game, one on a crafty drop-and-pass sequence that briefly extended the battle. Shnaider finally converted on her seventh opportunity to book her quarterfinal spot.
"The first few games you just get used to the spin, where are her strengths, what is her weakness," Shnaider said of her gameplan. "You just gotta give yourself a little more time to adjust, then it becomes a bit easier as the games go on."
That result continues Shnaider's strong run in Asia. The Russian standout was runner-up to Ons Jabeur at the 2023 Ningbo Open and made the semis last year. She now faces Iva Jovic for a place in the final four.
For Eala, the loss cuts short a week that started with a 6-3, 6-1 first-round win over Diane Parry. The world No. 20 has climbed steadily through the rankings this season, though, and should remain a factor as the Asian swing rolls on.
