Colombian Star Camila Osorio Halts Alex Eala's Run at Philippine Women's Open
In a thrilling quarterfinal clash at the Philippine Women's Open, Colombia's Camila Osorio showcased her skill and determination to overcome local favorite Alex Eala with a straight-sets victory of 6-4, 6-4. The match took place on Thursday evening, January 29, 2026, at the packed Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila, drawing a passionate crowd of Filipino supporters eager to see Eala advance.
Osorio's Precision Proves Too Much for Eala
Osorio, seeded No. 5 in the tournament, demonstrated a masterful blend of power and finesse throughout the 89-minute encounter. Her accurate and precise shot-making consistently frustrated Eala's attempts to gain momentum, ultimately stymying the Filipina's bid to win her home tournament. This marked the first meeting between the two players in this WTA 125 competition, which is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
After the match, Eala expressed her disappointment, saying, "Sayang, sayang, hindi nakapasa. It wasn't for me today, and congratulations to Camila." In contrast, Osorio reflected on her performance, noting, "I didn't mind the home fans at all, and it was still a tough match. I just played better." Osorio's experience, including multiple appearances in later rounds of Grand Slam tournaments like the French Open and US Open, likely contributed to her composure under pressure.
Semifinal Matchups Set as Tournament Intensifies
With this victory, Osorio advances to the semifinals, where she will face Solana Sierra of Argentina. Sierra secured her spot by defeating Thailand's Lanlana Tararudee 6-4, 6-3 in another quarterfinal match. This sets up an all-South American clash that promises to be highly competitive.
On the other side of the draw, popular Croatian player Donna Vekic captured local fan attention after Eala's exit. Vekic raised her game in critical moments to defeat China's Zu Lin in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, booking her own semifinal ticket. She will next face dangerous Russian Tatiana Prozova, who upset German top seed Tatjana Maria and rallied from a deficit to eliminate Belgium's Sofia Costoulas 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Doubles Action Adds to Tournament Excitement
In the women's doubles competition, Taiwanese pair Cho I-hsuan and Cho Yi-tsen advanced to the semifinals by subduing Thai-Chinese duo Mananchaya Sawangkaew and Ye-xin Ma 6-3, 6-4. They will be joined by the No. 1 seeded American pair of Quinn Gleason and Sabrina Santamaria, who defeated Taiwanese-Japanese team Li Yu-yun and Sara Saito 6-2, 6-3.
This tournament serves as the inaugural project of the National Sports Tourism-Inter Agency Committee, led by PSC Chairperson Patrick "Pato" Gregorio, highlighting its significance in promoting sports and tourism in the Philippines. As the competition moves into its final stages, fans can expect more high-stakes tennis action in the coming days.
