Filipino Tennis Star Alex Eala Exits WTA 125 Philippine Women's Open in Quarterfinal Defeat
In a highly anticipated match at the newly renovated Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila, Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala saw her run at the WTA 125 Philippine Women's Open come to an end on Thursday, January 29, 2026. The 20-year-old home favorite fell to Colombia's Camila Osorio in straight sets, with scores of 6–4, 6–4, during the quarterfinal stage of this historic tournament—the first-ever WTA 125 event held in the Philippines.
Eala's Emotional Response and Injury Challenge
Following the match, Eala, who is currently ranked No. 49 in the world, expressed her disappointment to the supportive local fans who packed the venue. "Sorry, I did my best," she said. "Too bad I didn't reach that level, but what's important is that I'm here in Manila, in the Philippines, and the WTA is here." Notably, Eala competed throughout the tournament with her right thigh heavily bandaged, yet she refused to use this as an excuse for her performance. Instead, she turned her focus to inspiring others, adding, "I hope you all get inspired and learn to love tennis. I love tennis so much, and I'm thankful I can share this experience with all of you."
Osorio's Focused Victory and Semifinal Prospects
Despite the loud cheers and overwhelming support for Eala, fifth-seeded Camila Osorio, ranked No. 84 globally, maintained her composure and delivered a clinical performance. She combined powerful shots with precise play to secure the victory in one hour and 29 minutes. "I didn't mind the home fans," Osorio remarked. "It was a tough match. I just played better." As of press time on Friday, Osorio was set to face Argentina's Solana Sierra in an all–South American semifinal. Sierra advanced after defeating Thailand's Lanlana Tararudee with scores of 6–4, 6–3.
Tournament Highlights and Eala's Previous Successes
Eala had initially made a strong impression in the tournament, showcasing her skills with convincing wins in earlier rounds:
- In the first round, she defeated Russia's Alina Charaeva, 6–1, 6–2.
- In the round of 16, she overpowered Japan's Himeno Sakatsume, 6–4, 6–0, to reach the quarterfinals.
Looking ahead, Eala is scheduled to compete next in the WTA 500 tournament in Abu Dhabi, aiming to bounce back from this setback.
Other Semifinal Matchups and Doubles Action
The other semifinal in the singles draw featured Croatia's Donna Vekic, ranked No. 74, against Russia's Tatiana Prozorova, ranked No. 174. Vekic secured her spot by defeating China's Lin Zhu, 6–4, 6–3, while Prozorova staged a comeback to beat Belgium's Sofia Costoulas, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4.
In doubles competition, the tournament saw exciting progress as well:
- Taiwanese sisters Cho I-hsuan and Cho Yi-tsen advanced to the semifinals after a victory over Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew and China's Ma Ye-xin, 6–3, 6–4.
- Top-seeded Americans Quinn Gleason and Sabrina Santamaria also moved forward, defeating the duo of Taiwan's Li Yu-yun and Japan's Sara Saito, 6–2, 6–3.
This event marks a significant milestone for Philippine tennis, bringing world-class competition to local shores and highlighting the growing interest in the sport across the nation.
