Filipina tennis star Alex Eala secured a bronze medal for the Philippines at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, after falling to China’s Wang Xiyu in the women’s singles semifinals Thursday.

Eala took the opening set, 6-3, but Wang fought back to win the next two sets, 6-3, 6-2, and advance to the gold medal match.

The Filipina controlled the first set for 56 minutes, posting a 74% first-serve percentage and winning 74% of her points on first serve. She also held a 40-33 advantage in total points.

Wang responded in the second set, winning 67% of her second-serve points and forcing the match into a decider after a 55-minute set.

The Chinese player carried her momentum into the third set, converting three of four break-point opportunities and winning 78% of her second-serve points to close out the 2-hour, 34-minute semifinal.

Wang finished with 98 total points against Eala’s 88, while also holding advantages in aces, 3-0, and break-point conversions, 6-of-11 to 4-of-11.

Despite missing out on the gold medal match, Eala adds a bronze to the Philippine delegation’s medal haul in Aichi-Nagoya.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the Philippines had 22 medals — three gold, five silver and 14 bronze — placing 18th in the overall medal tally. The country also added another bronze through Jesus Yape in the men’s individual poomsae competition in taekwondo.