Eala's gold medal hopes dashed by Wang as she settles for Asian Games bronze

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/eala-alexandra/ppu9X7PH/"]Eala[/a], the Southeast ‌Asian nation's first WTA title winner and a fan favourite on tour, ‌was consigned to a second singles bronze medal and third in ‌total, having also taken the mixed doubles bronze at Hangzhou ‌three years ago.[/p][p]The 21-year-old gave up a chance for ranking points and prize money at the concurrent China Open to represent the Philippines in Nagoya ‌and may get a fine and ranking ⁠penalty from the WTA for ‌skipping the mandatory event in Beijing.[/p][p]Eala said she had no regrets.[/p][p][b]"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," [/b]she told reporters.[/p][embed guid="92fdf48e-7c5f-4f23-a1a0-83af28962c2f" url="https://x.com/OneSportsPHL/status/2105589411866148864" social-type="twitter" /][p]The world number 18 was on track for her first Asian Games final, but her level ⁠dropped in the second ​set before she crumbled to a 4-1 deficit in the third.[/p][p]The 85th-ranked [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wang-xiyu/6XSnpS5h/"]Wang[/a] fought off break points against the increasingly desperate Eala before serving out the match to love at Higashiyama Park ‌Tennis Center.[/p][p][b]"(Wang) was more consistent. I had a couple of ups and downs during the match, which is something I have to talk to my team about and process,"[/b] said Eala.[/p][h2]All-Chinese final[/h2][p]Wang will meet 37-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zhang-shuai/OY0ZExo5/"]Zhang Shuai[/a] in an all-China final.[/p][p]She may have her hands full against former Wimbledon and Australian Open quarter-finalist Zhang, who rolled back the years to beat Kazakh [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/putintseva-yulia/W2BCKjLQ/"]Yulia Putintseva[/a] 6-4, 6-2.[/p][p]Zhang has medalled at three previous Asian Games, taking ‌silver in the 2018 singles in Jakarta and a team gold ​at her home Games at Guangzhou 2010.[/p][p]She will be ‌in her 40s when the next Games launch in Doha in 2030 but was not ruling out playing.[/p][p][b]"I always feel like this may be my last Games. But look, aren’t I here again?"[/b] she said.[/p][p]"As long as you don’t ⁠give up on yourself, no ⁠one else in this ‌world can give you that death sentence.”[/p]