Eala eyes SEA Games return after stellar 2025 season; possible clash with Tjen brews

Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala is setting her sights on a return to the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games this December in Thailand, hoping to build on a milestone-filled 2025 season that saw her break into the WTA Top 60 and reach new career highs, Oct. 31.

In a press conference after her Hong Kong Open exit, as seen in a video posted by ABS-CBN, Eala confirmed that competing in the SEA Games is part of her plans.

Her planned return could also set up a much-awaited rematch against Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, whom she faced earlier this year in the Sao Paulo Open quarterfinals in Brazil.

The two Southeast Asian standouts have shared a growing on-court rivalry that may continue in Thailand.

The 20-year-old last competed in the SEA Games in 2021 in Hanoi, where she bagged three bronze medals in singles, mixed doubles, and team events, before earning additional podium finishes at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Eala’s 2025 season marked several breakthroughs, including a career-best world ranking of No. 51, a historic Grand Slam main-draw win at the US Open, and her first WTA 125 title in Guadalajara.

She also expressed excitement about reports of a potential WTA 125 tournament in Manila next year.

As Eala eyes another podium finish in the upcoming SEA Games, her focus now shifts to ending the year strong, and carrying her momentum into 2026.