NAGOYA, Japan | Filipina tennis star Alex Eala said she has no regrets about choosing to represent the Philippines at the 2026 Asian Games instead of playing in the China Open, even after her bid for the singles gold medal and a place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics ended in the semifinals on Thursday.
Eala, the world No. 18 and top seed in Nagoya, lost to China’s Wang Xiyu, ranked No. 85, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. The result gave Eala her second Asian Games singles bronze medal and third overall Asian Games medal after she also won mixed doubles bronze with Francis Alcantara in 2023.
The 21-year-old had earlier acknowledged that skipping the China Open was not an easy decision. The Beijing tournament is a mandatory WTA 1000 event, and missing it without an exemption could expose her to a $10,000 fine and a ranking penalty.
“It was a decision I didn’t take lightly,” Eala told SNTV after her second-round victory. She said missing a major tournament such as the China Open was difficult, particularly because she had never played there, but added that she was excited to represent her country and compete in the Asian Games.
The Philippines Tennis Association had requested an exemption from the WTA, citing the scheduling conflict between the China Open and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino said Eala would compete in Nagoya regardless of the WTA’s decision.
The choice carried significant professional consequences. The China Open offered WTA ranking points and prize money, while the Asian Games provided Eala an opportunity to compete for the Philippines and, through the singles competition, pursue an Olympic quota place for Los Angeles 2028.
Eala entered the Asian Games after a breakthrough season. She became the first Filipino to win a WTA singles title when she captured the Washington tournament and also recorded a major victory over defending champion Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon. She subsequently reached the third round of the U.S. Open before travelling to Japan.
Her Asian Games campaign began with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 victory over Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej. She later defeated Taiwan’s Joanna Garland in the quarterfinals to secure at least a bronze medal before Wang ended her gold-medal bid.
Despite falling short of the gold medal, Eala said she was happy with the experience of competing alongside the Philippine delegation and representing the country.
“I’m really happy to have experienced this, to experience the support … and to be with the team and, yeah, to compete for the country,” Eala said after her semifinal loss, according to Reuters.
Her decision also reflects the continuing tension faced by athletes competing simultaneously on the professional circuit and in major multisport events, where tournament rules, ranking requirements and national representation can collide.
For Eala, the choice was ultimately made before she stepped onto the court in Nagoya. She gave up the opportunity to play Beijing’s WTA 1000 event and accepted the professional consequences in order to wear the Philippine colors at the Asian Games.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
