Alex Eala comes home to headline Philippine Women’s Open

Fresh from the sting of an early Australian Open exit, Alex Eala is wasting no time turning the page — and she is doing it on home soil, in a moment that could redefine Philippine tennis.

The 20-year-old Filipina arrived in Manila on Wednesday night alongside her parents, Mike and Rizza, and coach Joan Bosch, ready to headline the country’s first-ever WTA 125 tournament, the Philippine Women’s Open, scheduled from January 24 to 31 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. Her arrival was greeted by PHILTA Secretary General John Rey Tiangco, a member of the event’s organizing committee, underscoring the significance of the occasion.

Eala enters the tournament via wild card, a slot that hinged on her Australian Open campaign. Despite a disappointing run in Melbourne — where she bowed out in the opening round of singles to American Alycia Parks and later fell in doubles with Brazilian partner Ingrid Martins — the young star sees the Manila stop not as a setback, but as a reset.

“Yes, I will be playing next week. I’m looking forward to it, and I hope people can show up and support the Pinays,” Eala said.

Her presence alone elevates the Philippine Women’s Open, which marks the country’s debut on the WTA 125 calendar. For Eala, however, the tournament carries deeper meaning beyond ranking points and match results.

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Alex Eala touched down at NAIA Terminal 3 on Wednesday evening, fresh from her landmark AO debut.

She returns home to compete in the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open, a WTA 125 event set from January 26–31 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. pic.twitter.com/vmzcdeTTXD

— Dyan Castillejo (@DYANCASTILLEJO) January 21, 2026

“It’s a huge milestone in Philippine tennis, and I think it’s a big deal for all of us Filipina tennis players,” she said.

True to her growing reputation as a trailblazer, Eala flew directly to Manila after her Melbourne matches, opting to quickly shift focus rather than dwell on missed opportunities. The home event, long a dream for Filipino tennis players, represents a chance to reconnect with local fans and inspire the next generation.

“It’s been a dream to have a home tournament,” Eala added.

“I’m so happy that it’s going to bring a lot of inspiration for the girls back home.”

The current WTA No.44 ranked player as per live rankings, will not be flying the flag alone. Fellow Filipinas Steffi Aludo and Tennielle Madis are also entered, giving local fans multiple homegrown players to rally behind in a tournament stacked with international talent. 

The singles field features Germany’s World No. 42 Tatjana Maria and China’s No. 46 Wang Xinyu as top seeds, along with a deep lineup that includes Donna Vekic, Kimberly Birrell, Camila Osorio, and several other top-100 contenders.     

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