After making a historic run at the US Open, Alex Eala will shift her focus to the Asian Games gold medal in Nagoya, Japan, which starts on 27 September at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center.

Eala said she loves representing the country and enjoys competing in a different setting from the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour, particularly after her memorable stint in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Bangkok last December.

The 21-year-old Filipina netter exited the final Grand Slam of the year after a 5-7, 6-3, 5-7 loss to world No. 14 and close friend Iva Jovic of the United States.

“I love playing and competing with the Philippine team. In the SEA Games, the Asian Games, I’ve also done that. I think it’s a really fun environment, and I love being with the team,” Eala said in a post-match interview.

“Especially this last SEA Games in December, it was such a great time, and I think they’re really memories that stick with me.”

Eala will take a short break before heading to Singapore for the Singapore Tennis Open from 21 to 27 September at the OCBC Arena, which will serve as her final tuneup for the Asiad.

By joining the Asian Games, Eala will be alongside the likes of boxers Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas and Carlo Paalam, jiu-jitsu ace Annie Ramirez, pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, and gymnastics brothers Carlos and Eldrew Yulo as the Philippines seeks to surpass its four-gold medal haul from the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

However, Eala will skip the China Open, a mandatory WTA 1000 tournament scheduled from 30 September to 11 October in Beijing, which happens simultaneously with the Asiad.

Skipping the China Open would incur a zero-point penalty that could affect Eala’s WTA ranking but she could also face a monetary fine for missing the prestigious tournament.

Should Eala win the gold medal in the Asiad, she will receive P2 million under Republic Act 10699, or the “National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.”

For comparison, reaching just the second round of the China Open would earn her roughly $35,000, or around P2.2 million.

But for Eala, the opportunity to don the national colors at the Asian Games outweighs the bigger monetary reward awaiting her in Beijing.

The Filipina is also aiming to help end the Philippines’ 64-year women’s tennis gold medal drought in the Asiad.

“The Asian Games happens once every four years, and, yeah, I just found myself drawn to competing in that, aside from other stuff,” said Eala, who is seeking to improve on her bronze-medal finish at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Philippine Tennis Association executive director Tonette Mendoza told DAILY TRIBUNE that given Eala’s trajectory, she has a good chance of going all the way in the Asian Games.