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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alex Eala says thigh bandage 'nothing serious'

Alex Eala says thigh bandage 'nothing serious'

Published Jan 29, 2026 03:45 pm

At A Glance

  • Alex Eala brushed aside concerns about her physical condition during her Round-of-16 match against Japan's Himeno Sakatsume in the WTA 125 Philippine Women's Open on Wednesday night, Jan. 28.
Alex Eala (PWO)
Alex Eala (PWO)
Alex Eala brushed aside concerns about her physical condition during her Round-of-16 match against Japan’s Himeno Sakatsume in the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open on Wednesday night, Jan. 28.
Eala was seen wearing a heavy bandage on her right thigh in her 6-4, 6-0 win over Sakatsume, but the 20-year-old ace stressed it was nothing serious and merely a precaution.
“It's good. It's normal that I have some physical hurdles. It's normal. I'm competing a lot. I'll take my time to assess after this presscon when I have more time and I'm a bit more chill,” said No. 2 seed Eala, who now enters the quarterfinals later Thursday, Jan. 29.
“I don't think it's anything serious. It just helps that I have this tape as a precaution. Health is the first priority, so you want to be really safe with how I approach these matters,” she added.
Despite having a tape on her leg, the WTA No. 49 was nothing but spectacular against her Japanese opponent, particularly in the eighth game of the first set which shifted the momentum on Eala’s side.
But for Eala, staying calm and collected proved to be the edge she needed in the back-and-forth opening set.
“I think I did save a lot of break points in that first set. I think just staying calm was a big part of it. Not panicking. I think just taking it point by point was a big key to pulling through that game.,” Eala continued.
“I think that was a very crucial point of the match. I think just staying calm and staying focused was what I did,” she added.
Up next for Eala is No. 5 seed Colombian Camila Osorio as the two netters duke it out for a semis spot where one of them could book a possible date against Thai Lanlana Tararudee or No. 3 seed Argentinian Solana Sierra.
It will be the first WTA Tour meeting between Eala and Osorio.
“I'm in a good space right now. Obviously, the two wins really, they feel good to have these two wins at home. Nakikita din ‘yong mga tao na may panalo ako dito,” said Eala.
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