Alex Eala returned to Manila and confirmed she will compete in the first Philippine Women’s Open, marking the country’s debut as host of a WTA 125 tournament. Eala arrived Wednesday night following her campaign at the Australian Open and was welcomed by officials of the Philippine Tennis Association ahead of the event set from January 26 to 31 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Eala enters the tournament as a wildcard, a spot that places her at the center of a milestone moment for Philippine tennis. The staging of a WTA event on home soil brings international competition to Manila for the first time at this level and gives Filipino players a rare chance to compete in a ranking tournament without leaving the country.
Her return comes days after her main draw debut at the Australian Open, where she bowed out in the opening round to American Alycia Parks in three sets. Eala also saw action in doubles before heading back to Manila to prepare for the local tournament.
“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. “It’s a huge milestone in Philippine tennis, and I think it’s a big deal for all of us Filipina tennis players.”
Tournament organizers said the Philippine Women’s Open is part of a broader push to elevate the sport locally and expose Filipino athletes to higher level competition. Eala’s presence is expected to draw attention to the event as fans get the chance to watch her compete at home in a WTA tournament for the first time.
After the Manila leg, Eala is also listed as a qualifying wildcard for the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, a WTA 500 event scheduled from January 31 to February 7, as she continues her early season run on the international tour.
