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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alex Eala outlasts Charaeva, advances to second round in Philippine Women's Open

Alex Eala outlasts Charaeva, advances to second round in Philippine Women's Open

Published Jan 26, 2026 09:54 pm

At A Glance

  • Alex Eala made a strong statement in her title campaign at the Philippine Women's Open, carving out a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Russian Alina Charaeva in the opening round at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center on Monday night, Jan. 26.
Alex Eala. (File Photo/AP)
Alex Eala. (File Photo/AP)
Alex Eala made a strong statement in her title campaign at the Philippine Women’s Open after carving out a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Russian Alina Charaeva in the opening round at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center on Monday night, Jan. 26.
The second-seeded hometown hero didn’t disappoint the huge crowd, who went out of the venue with delight, rebounding from a 0-2 deficit in the second set before seizing control the rest of the way to spoil the Russian’s comeback attempt in their one-hour, 16-minute showdown.
With the win, the world No. 49 Eala next faces the winner between Japanese Nao Hibino and Himeno Sakatsume in the second round.
The victory was also a redemption of sorts for Eala, who lost to Charaeva in their previous meeting in 2020 at the W15 Melilla in Spain.
It was also a fitting end to a much-anticipated evening, seeing other local bets fall earlier to their foreign counterparts.
Tennielle Madis flashed her might but ultimately lost her steam and bowed to Thai Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 4-6, 0-6, while Elizabeth Abarquez fell in straight straight sets to Japan’s Mai Hontama, 0-6, 0-6.
Two Filipina pairs also yielded in the doubles, with Kaye Emana and Justine Maneja absorbing a 2-6, 2-6 beating from Argentinean Nicole Huergo and Latvian Darja Semenistaja; and Angeline Alcala and Joanna Peña succumbing to Taiwanese Li Yu-Yun and Japanese Sara Saito, 0-6, 1-6.
Aside from Eala, Kaye Ann Emana remains the other Filipina bet in the field as she tangles with Tatiana Prozorova on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
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