Alex Eala arrived in Nagoya and immediately got to work, taking to the court for warm-ups and practice ahead of her much-awaited Asian Games campaign.
The WTA No. 18-ranked Filipino tennis star began her preparations Saturday for the women’s singles event of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after arriving in Japan earlier in the day.
Eala was welcomed by the Philippine delegation led by Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
Asked about representing the Philippines, Eala had a simple message.
“Proud and excited,” she said.
The 21-year-old top seed received a first-round bye and will begin her singles campaign in round of 16 against Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej, who advanced after defeating Pakistan’s Mahin Aftab Qureshi.
Eala heads into the Asian Games after reaching the second round of the Singapore Open, where she was eventually eliminated.
Now, she gets another opportunity to compete for the Philippines on a major international stage.
Meanwhile, Tennielle Madis has already bowed out of the women’s singles competition, losing to Japan’s seventh seed Himeno Sakatsume.
Madis will still have another chance to compete in Nagoya as she teams up with Stefi Aludo in women’s doubles.
Eala, meanwhile, will also play doubles alongside University of Alabama standout Shaira Rivera, with the pair set to face Hong Kong’s Kallista Liu and Ching Laam Lai.
With Eala now back on the practice court, the focus shifts toward her long-awaited Asian Games debut in Nagoya.
The top seed has arrived, preparations are underway, and the wait for Eala’s first match is almost over. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
