The Philippine national tennis team is not putting any pressure on local star Tennielle Madis as she enters as a wildcard in the main draw of the Philippine Women’s Open on 26 January at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

National team coach Bobie Angelo said they are pitting her against male players to get ready against world-class stars like former world No. 17 and Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic of Croatia, No. 45 Tatjana Maria of Germany as well as No. 57 Xinyu Wang of China, No. 66 Solana Sierra of Argentina, No. 90 Lulu Sun of New Zealand and No. 94 Moyuka Uchijima of Japan.

Madis, 18, will join world No. 49 Alex Eala in the main draw of this prestigious Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 125 tournament.

But if Eala produces a solid run in the main draw of the Australian Open, which begins on 18 January at Melbourne Park, another Filipino tennis player will take her place.

“She’s very excited. You can see the fire in her eyes every time she hits the ball,” Angelo said.

“The routine is the same, but we leveled up her hitting partners. Her opponents now are all men — all pros.”

“They’re strong. We’re getting college players and open pros here in the Philippines.

The training is on a different level now, because the main draw is also a different level.”

Madis won two bronze medals in the women’s doubles and team events last December in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand last December.

She also won the Gentry Open and the Philippine Columbian Association women’s singles title last October.

The netter from M’lang, North Cotabato vows to give it her all as she faces some of the best tennis players in the world.

“It will be my first time playing in a WTA 125. I promise to do my best,” Madis said.

The pairings for the Philippine Women's Open have yet to be announced at press time.