Eala starts hunt for Asiad gold, Olympic spot

Top-seeded Filipina tennis standout Alexandra “Alex” Eala launches her quest for gold medal in the 20th Asian Games women’s singles tournament on Monday at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Japan.

Following a first-round bye, world No. 18 Eala faces Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej (ranked No. 510) in the Round of 16, with the official match time still to be set.

Eala holds a clear advantage, having previously defeated the 31-year-old Thai player 6-3, 6-4 at the 2022 ITF Thailand 05A event.

Cheapchandej advanced to the second round following a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over Pakistan’s Mahin Aftab Qureshi.

Despite her top billing, the 21-year-old Eala remains cautious as she aims to recover from a recent second-round exit at the 2026 Singapore Tennis Open, where she fell 6-4, 5-7, 3-6 to Russia’s Tatiana Prozorova (world No. 180).

“I think I have as big a chance as any other person on the draw (in the Asian Games). I think once you compete and, like I said, once you’re in the draw, you have a chance so I’ll do my best,” said Eala following her Singapore loss.

Eala is aiming to build on her bronze medal from the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and contribute to the Philippines’ gold tally, which currently stands at two following gymnastics star Carlos Yulo’s achievements.

Beyond her singles run, Eala will team up with Shaira Hope Rivera in the women’s doubles, opening against Hong Kong’s Lai Ching Laam and Kallista Liu.

In other singles action, 19-year-old Filipina Tennielle Madis exited early after a 1-6, 0-6 defeat to seventh seed Himeno Sakatsume of host nation Japan.

Madis now shifts her focus to doubles, pairing with Stefi Marithe Aludo to face Indonesia’s Anjali Kirana Junarto and Meydiana Laviola Reinnamah in their opening round.

If she wins the gold, Eala would automatically secure a berth in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, becoming the first Filipino athlete to do so.