Tatiana Prozorova overcame Alex Eala's fan support to win in Singapore

Tatiana Prozorova defeated rising Filipina star Alex Eala at the Singapore Open. The Russian player said the most difficult part of the match was overcoming the intense support for her opponent from the crowd.

Prozorova lost an early advantage in the first set but later realized she could win. She committed to fighting for every point. Her preparation was key. She had studied Eala's matches beforehand, analyzing her positioning, tendencies, and discomforts. Prozorova and her coach created a specific game plan, adjusting it based on her own feelings and skills during the match. She said she did not know the final outcome until the very end.

The crowd was strongly supportive of Eala, cheering, chanting, waving placards, and raising a ruckus. Prozorova noted it was a significant factor. "Especially since this is Asia, which is quite close to the Philippines," she said. As the match progressed, she stopped being bothered by the noise and found her rhythm. Prozorova stated it was harder to play against Alex Eala's fans than against her tennis.

Semi-final run ends due to concussion protocol after doubles incident

Prozorova's Singapore campaign continued impressively. She beat Xinyu Wang to reach her first ever WTA Tour semi-final. That breakthrough run ended abruptly, however, after she was hit in the head by a ball during a doubles match.

Due to the head impact, tournament officials ruled her not fit to compete in her scheduled semi-final. The WTA Tour's concussion protocol also forced her to withdraw from qualifying at the subsequent China Open. She protested the decision on social media.

Prozorova protests decision, rises to career-high ranking, eyes return

Despite the setback, Prozorova's performance in Singapore propelled her up the rankings. She rose 57 places to a career-high world number 123. Eala, who reached the top 20 of the WTA rankings this year after winning her first WTA title in Washington, is also a rising force.

Prozorova now hopes to return to competition at upcoming Asian tournaments. Her goal is to play in WTA 125 events in Suzhou and WTA Tour events in Ningbo, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong. Alex Eala is also entered into some of those upcoming events.

Tatiana Prozorova hopes to return to WTA 125 tournaments in Suzhou and WTA Tour events in Ningbo, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong.