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Alexandra Eala
THE Philippine Tennis Association has formally asked the Women’s Tennis Association to exempt Alexandra Eala from possible penalties for skipping a mandatory WTA 1000 tournament to represent the country in the 2026 Asian Games.
Eala has been included in the Philippine tennis lineup for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, despite a schedule conflict with the China Open.
Navotas Mayor and PHILTA Secretary General John Rey Tiangco confirmed that the federation had informed the WTA of Eala’s commitment to the national team, while PHILTA Executive Director Tonette Mendoza said the federation had been coordinating with the WTA for some time but had yet to receive a decision.
The Asian Games tennis competition will overlap with the China Open, a mandatory WTA 1000 event. Both tournaments are scheduled to begin in the final week of September and extend into October.
Under the WTA’s 2026 rulebook, eligible players are required to compete in designated commitment tournaments. A player who misses one could receive a zero-point result that must count toward her singles ranking.
A national federation, however, may request an exemption when a major regional competition overlaps with a mandatory tour event, but approval is not automatic.
“Alex herself has made it clear that representing the Philippines is an honor and that she is choosing to play for the flag,” Tiangco said.
“We fully support that decision and are doing everything we can to ensure that choosing to represent her country does not come at the expense of her standing on the WTA Tour.”
Mendoza said PHILTA was still waiting for clarification on any possible sanction. “Wala pa kaming nare-receive from the WTA tungkol sa penalty or kung may penalty,” she said.
Following her third-round loss to American Iva Jovic at the US Open, Eala said her positive experiences with the national team influenced her decision to prioritize the Asian Games.
“I think it’s a really fun environment, and I love being with the team, especially this last SEA Games in December,” Eala said. “I had such a great time, and I think they’re really memories that stick with me.”
Before the Asian Games, Eala is scheduled to play in the WTA 500 Singapore Open. — Randy Caluag
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