MusaFilipina tennis sensation Alex Eala has been making waves at the inaugural 2026 Philippine Women’s Open Tennis at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center, securing commanding victories in her opening matches and advancing to the quarterfinals.
Dominant Homecoming Performance
In her first professional match on home soil, Alex Eala, the tournament’s second seed, delivered a masterclass performance against Russia’s Alina Charaeva in the Round of 32 on Monday, January 26, 2026. Eala clinched a decisive straight-sets victory, 6-1, 6-2, in just over an hour. The win served as a measure of redemption for Eala, who had previously lost to Charaeva in 2020.
Buoyed by a packed, partisan home crowd, Eala started strong, dictating play and taking the first set quickly. She faced a brief challenge in the second set, going down 0-2 and calling a medical timeout for a minor discomfort (cramping in her right thigh), but quickly regained her composure, winning six consecutive games9 to seal the match and her place in the Round of 16. She noted in her post-match interview, “Playing at home is a highlight of my career,” emphasizing the special nature of the win.
Marching to the Quarterfinals
Eala’s momentum continued on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, as she faced Japan’s Himeno Sakatsume in the Round of 16. Demonstrating powerful play and excellent defense, Eala secured another convincing straight-sets victory, 6-4, 6-0. This win also avenged a previous loss to the Japanese player in 2023, showcasing Eala’s significant improvement.
The 20-year-old Eala will now face Colombia’s Camila Osorio in the quarterfinals on Thursday, as she continues her campaign in the historic WTA 125 event. The tournament marks a significant milestone for Philippine tennis, being the country’s first-ever WTA-sanctioned event.
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