Home Bet Elizabeth Abarquez Succumbs to Japanese Opponent in WTA 125 Philippine Women's Open Debut
In a challenging opening match at the historic WTA 125 Philippine Women's Open (PWO), local hopeful Elizabeth Abarquez faced a tough defeat against Japan's Mai Hontana. The match, held on Monday, January 26, 2026, at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila, concluded with scores of 6-0, 6-0 in favor of the Japanese player.
Abarquez's Valiant Effort Against Experienced Foe
The young Filipina athlete fought with determination in front of a supportive hometown crowd, but Hontana, a 2024 Australian Open campaigner, displayed formidable skill to secure her spot in the Round of 16. This tournament marks the first-ever WTA-sanctioned event in the Philippines, adding significance to the competition.
"I really did my best, but it was not just good enough. However, this competition is a big experience for me. It's nice to play against the best in the world," Abarquez remarked after the match, highlighting the learning opportunity despite the loss.
Pending Matches and Filipina Contenders
At the time of reporting, second seed Alex Eala had yet to play her match against Russian Alina Charaeva, who is ranked 142nd in the world. A victory for Eala would advance her to a Round of 16 clash on Tuesday, January 27, against the winner of the match between Japanese players Nao Hibino and Himeno Sakatsumi.
Other matches involving Filipina players were still ongoing, including:
- UAAP MVP Kaye Ann Emana versus Tatiana Proszorova
- Tenny Madis against Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand
Donna Vekic on the Impact of the Tournament and Alex Eala
2024 Paris Olympics silver medalist Donna Vekic of Croatia, currently ranked 71st and seeded fourth in the PWO, shared her insights on the event's significance. She emphasized that the Philippine Women's Open and the popularity of Alex Eala are providing a substantial boost to tennis in the country.
"It is amazing to ride on the wave of Alex's fame and what she brings to the country, making people more aware of tennis. I guess many kids are now starting to play tennis because of her," Vekic stated. She added, "Who knows? You may have another star [like Alex] soon," referring to the potential impact of this inaugural WTA 125 tournament, which is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Vekic, who was scheduled to play against Kyoko Nakamura (ranked 310th) late Monday afternoon, offered advice to aspiring young players: "work hard, be yourself, and enjoy the game."
Vekic's Experiences and Crowd Support
The Croatian player has faced Eala twice recently, losing to her at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, earlier this year and again at the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne, Australia, just last week. Despite this, Vekic expressed appreciation for the Filipino crowd's enthusiasm.
"The support for Eala has absolutely been insane. After the matches, I told (the Filipino crowd) 'Maybe you'll adopt me.' And I feel that they have," she shared. Vekic added, "I enjoy a huge crowd. It is a nice atmosphere, even if they are not cheering for me. I am ready for that. But hopefully, the Filipinos will support me here, at least until I play Alex."
