Claire Liu defeated second seed Alex Eala 6–3, 6–0 in the Hong Kong Open final on Sunday, winning her first WTA Tour title and denying the Philippine player a second career crown, Al Jazeera reported.

The American, ranked 102nd in the world, beat Eala in straight sets to end the 21-year-old’s tournament run. Eala finished the match with heavy strapping on her right leg.

Despite the defeat, Eala reflected emotionally on a breakthrough season that has taken her from 50th in the rankings to a career-high 17th. She is set to rise to No. 15 next week, according to the report.

“This season has changed my life; it’s changed my life for the better,” Eala told the crowd after the final.

In August, she won her maiden title in Washington, D.C., becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour tournament.

Eala became tearful as she thanked her team in the stands in Hong Kong.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve put in this year,” she said. “We’re the only ones that truly know what it took to arrive to this point in our journey.”

Sources