Historic WTA 125 Tournament Kicks Off in Manila with Alex Eala Leading the Charge
The Philippines is making tennis history this week as it hosts its first-ever Women's Tennis Association (WTA) 125 tournament, with homegrown sensation Alex Eala taking center stage in this landmark event. The Philippine Women's Open 2026 promises to deliver thrilling matches and showcase the rising talent in Filipino tennis on an international platform.
Eala Faces Formidable Russian Opponent in Opening Round
Second-seeded Alex Eala begins her campaign against Alina Charaeva of Russia in the first round (round of 32) on Monday, January 26, at the newly refurbished Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. The 20-year-old Filipina star currently holds the No. 49 ranking in the WTA listings, while her Russian opponent sits at No. 142. Despite the apparent ranking advantage, Eala remains cautious and has called for strong crowd support, noting that Charaeva brings significant experience with six ITF titles and a runner-up finish at last year's WTA 125 competition in Huzhou, China.
Filipina Contingent Ready for Tough Competition
According to Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) executive director Kenneth Mendoza, three other Filipina tennis players have secured spots in the main draw alongside Eala. UAAP Most Valuable Player Kaye Ann Emana enters as the third wildcard entry, joining Elizabeth Abarquez and Tenny Madis in what promises to be challenging matches against international opponents.
Elizabeth Abarquez will face Japan's Mai Hontama, who brings Australian Open 2024 experience to the court. Kaye Ann Emana takes on Tatiana Prozorova, a 22-year-old Russian player with seven ITF titles and a career-high ranking of 140. Meanwhile, Tenny Madis battles Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew, who reached her first WTA finals at the Mumbai 125 tournament in India last year.
Eala's Journey and Inspirational Message
Alex Eala, who recently made her debut at the Australian Open earlier this month and has already competed in Grand Slam tournaments, shared her thoughts ahead of the historic home tournament. "It's hard to think about winning. I really need your support — it will inspire me to do more and play hard. I [still] have so much to learn. I will do my best. I hope I can inspire a lot of people in a positive way," Eala stated.
The top Filipina player expressed particular joy about competing in a WTA tournament in her home country. "I'm here. I'm home. The fact that I have a tournament to play at home makes me very happy and proud," she emphasized. Eala has developed a reputation for drawing enthusiastic crowds during her international appearances and acknowledged this support, saying, "It's so crazy to see the crowd behind me. I want to thank all who supported me in my journey."
The Philippine Women's Open 2026 represents a significant milestone for tennis development in the country, providing local players with valuable international competition experience while showcasing Filipino talent to the global tennis community.
