Eala earns wildcard spot in historic WTA 125 Philippine Open

Alex Eala will compete in the first-ever Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 125 Philippine Open after receiving a wildcard from the Philippine Tennis Association (PhilTA) early this January, placing the Filipina tennis ace in the main draw of the landmark home tournament.

PhilTa confirmed Eala’s inclusion upon the release of the official draw for the January 26–31, 2026 event at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center, the highest-level women’s professional tennis tournament ever staged in the country.

SEA Games gold medalist and world No. 49 Eala will join the Manila field fresh from her campaign at the Australian Open earlier this month. 

The Philippine Open draw features a mix of established tour players and emerging contenders, including several ranked inside the top 100, underscoring the level of competition expected throughout the week.

Aside from Eala, Tennielle Madis, Elizabeth Abarquez, and Kaye Emana will play in the main draw, while Stefi Aludo, Angeline Alcala, and Lauraine Jallorina competed in the qualifiers. 

Eala is set to open her campaign against Russia’s Alina Charaeva in the round of 32.