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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider All eyes on Alex Eala: Inaugural Philippine Women's Open fires off on Monday

All eyes on Alex Eala: Inaugural Philippine Women's Open fires off on Monday

Published Jan 25, 2026 01:25 pm

At A Glance

  • More than seeking a different outcome from her last encounter with Charaeva and chasing a WTA title on home soil, Eala also hopes the tournament -- and the sport itself -- will thrive in the country. For the world No. 49, the staging of this WTA event is just the beginning of better things to come.
Alex Eala banners the elite field in the inaugural Philippine Women's Open. (File Photo/AP)
Alex Eala banners the elite field in the inaugural Philippine Women's Open. (File Photo/AP)
All eyes will be on hometown hero Alex Eala as she banners an elite field in the inaugural staging of the Philippine Women’s Open at the historic Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila starting on Monday, Jan. 26.
Entering as the second seed in the WTA 125 tournament, the 20-year-old Eala is expected to bring her A-game before an expected huge crowd when she clashes with a familiar rival in Russian Alina Charaeva in the opening round.
The two players faced each other once before, at the W15 Melilla in Spain in 2020, where the Russian won in straight sets.
Despite the home crowd behind her, Eala said she will treat the tournament as any other event.
“Although this is at home, my mindset is intact and there’s no difference, so I take it match by match,” she said during the press conference on Saturday, Jan. 24.
“But it’s not [easy], it is what it its, ganun talaga ang tennis, you can’t win it all the time,” she added.
More than seeking a different outcome from her last encounter with Charaeva and chasing a WTA title on home soil, Eala also hopes the tournament -- and the sport itself -- will thrive in the country. For the world No. 49, the staging of this WTA event is just the beginning of better things to come.
“I think things will happen after,” said Eala. “Having a tournament like this brings in a lot of players, a lot of good competitions, and a lot of matches.”
“I think with the people or the locals being exposed to this competition and this environment, naturally, they will get into it or things will happen in a natural manner,” she added.
Philippine tennis enjoyed its peak in 1991, when the Davis Cup team bested Japan and China in the Asia/Oceania Zone to reach the World Group qualifying round, only to fall to Sweden.
Despite the milestone, interest in the sport wavered in a country dominated by basketball.
Now, with renewed interest, Eala hopes she and her fellow Filipina players can create a stronger impact through this event.
Also in the main draw are Elizabeth Abarquez, Kaye Ann Emana and Tenny Madis, who received wildcard entries. Stefi Aludo, who won her first match in the qualifying on Saturday, eventually fell short of advancing to the main draw after bowing to Japanese Sakuha Hosogi, 1-6, 2-6, on Sunday, Jan. 25.
World No. 42 Tatjana Maria headlines the field as the tournament’s top seed and is scheduled to meet Leolia Jeanjean. Other seeded players are third pick and world No. 63 Solana Sierra, 2024 Paris Olympics silver medalist Donna Vekic, fifth seed and world No. 84 Camila Osorio, sixth seed Lulu Sun, and seventh seed Simona Waltert.
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