Alexandra Eala assured fans that she was feeling fine after advancing to the women’s singles semifinals of the 2026 Asian Games with a straight-sets victory over Joanna Garland on Wednesday.
The top-seeded Filipina defeated the Taiwanese player, 7-5, 6-0, in the quarterfinals to remain in contention for the gold medal.
Eala drew attention during the match after appearing to cough repeatedly, prompting questions about her condition afterward, but the 21-year-old quickly played down the concern.
“Oh, I’m good. I’m good. Um, yeah, I’m good. Uh, just trying to get ready for doubles,” Eala said in her post-match interview.
The victory sends Eala into the semifinals, where she will face China’s Xiyu Wang, Thursday, for a place in the championship match.
Eala is seeking her first Asian Games singles gold after winning bronze in the previous edition.
She chose to compete in Aichi-Nagoya instead of the China Open, a decision that removed her from contention for a place in the WTA Finals later this year.
After the Asian Games, Eala is expected to return to the WTA Tour for the Wuhan Open in China, the final WTA 1000 event of the 2026 season. (Adrian Co)
