Eala skipping Phl Open?

The Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) believes world No. 18 Alex Eala could skip the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open next January and instead return home for the Manila Open, a WTA 250 tournament scheduled for November next year.

Philta executive director Tonette Mendoza said Eala’s ranking could make the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open less of a priority as she focuses on bigger tournaments on the WTA Tour.

Eala competed in the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open but lost to eventual champion and world No. 66 Camila Osorio of Colombia in the singles competition.

“Well, honestly, I think Alex will not be playing anymore in the 125. Her ranking is too high,” Mendoza told DAILY TRIBUNE in a phone conversation.

“Hopefully, she’ll be there (in the Manila Open) because she’ll just be planning her schedule for next year.”

Eala is coming off a bronze-medal finish in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, and is set to return to the WTA Tour at the Wuhan Open in China from 12 to 18 October.

With the WTA reducing mandatory commitments for top-ranked players next year, Eala will have more flexibility in managing her schedule and choosing tournaments that fit her career goals.

It could also give her more opportunities to represent the Philippines in major international competitions, including the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and Olympics.

But Mendoza stressed that the decision will ultimately remain with Eala, whose priority is to continue climbing the rankings and pursue major titles.

“Well, at least now, there’s more flexibility. But it will still always depend on the tournament and what points she needs to reach her goals and we at Philta, we never force her,” Mendoza said.