Alex Eala is willing to make a sacrifice and take a break from the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour just to chase an important medal that is missing in her growing collection of accolades: An Asian Games gold.

Philippine Lawn Tennis Association (Philta) executive director Tonette Mendoza told DAILY TRIBUNE that they will reach out to the WTA to allow the 21-year-old Eala skip the China Open — an event that will coincide with the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Mendoza explained that the China Open — a lucrative WTA 1000 event where the world’s highest-ranking tennis stars will see action for a boost in their ranking points — will be held from 30 September to 11 October at the National Tennis Center in Beijing. Its schedule will run smack directly with the Asian Games, that is set to unfurl from 27 September to 3 October at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center.

“We will let the WTA know about it. She really wants to play in the Asian Games,” Mendoza said in a telephone conversation on Thursday, referring to Eala, who is already in the United States to compete in the Cincinnati Open, another WTA 1000 event, starting Saturday.

After that, the world No. 20 Eala will see action in the US Open, the last Grand Slam event of the year. Her last stint before the Asian Games will be the Singapore Tennis Open, a WTA 500 event, that will be held from 21 to 27 September at the OCBC Arena at The Kallang.

“We are still waiting for the WTA’s answer. But regardless of their response, Alex will still play in the Asian Games.”

Picking the Asian Games over the WTA is a major sacrifice for the rising Filipina star.

First, since the China Open is rated as a WTA 1000 event, it dangles an attractive pot money that is no match compared to what she will secure even if she wins a gold medal in the Asian Games. In a WTA 1000 tournament, the winner gets to take home at least $1 million — or equivalent to more than P61 million — while in the Asian Games, a gold medalist will bank only P2 million based on the Republic Act 10699 or the Athletes and Coaches Incentives Act.

Aside from that, Eala stands to lose valuable ranking points, something that could potentially affect her standing in the race for the WTA Finals, a prestigious tourney where eight of the highest-ranking players will see action.

But Eala’s willingness to represent the country is worth more than any prize money or ranking points.

In her previous Asian Games stint in Hangzhou in 2023, Eala, who was then ranked outside the top 100, fell short as she settled for only a bronze medal in the women’s singles event.

Now, with a vastly-improved performance, polished mindset, impressive maturity and massive boost in ranking, Eala has a golden chance to finally clinch the gold medal, becoming the first tennis player Filipino to win an Asian Games title since Johnny Jose ruled the Jakarta edition in 1962.

Eala is also expected to enter the competition as one of the favorites with world No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and world No. 13 Naomi Osaka of Japan reportedly not expected to compete, leaving defending champion Qinwen Zheng of China and world No. 36 Janice Tjen of Indonesia as the only obstacles in her quest for Asian Games glory.

Mendoza said Philta is waiting for the final list of entries before mapping out Eala’s potential route to the title.

“Actually, what we’re waiting for is to know who the players are in the Asian Games that she can play against so they can plan for Alex, because we’re waiting for the final list of entries,” Mendoza said.