MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala will represent the Philippines at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, choosing the national team over the WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing because she values competing for her country.
Eala, the world No. 18, said Sunday after her US Open third-round loss to Iva Jovic that representing the Philippines gives her a different sense of pride from competing on the professional tennis circuit.
“I love playing and competing with the Philippine team. I think it’s a really fun environment. I love being with the team, especially this last SEA Games in December, I had such a great time, and I think that they’re really memories that stick with me,” Eala said during a press conference in New York.
“The Asian Games happens once every four years, and I just found myself drawn to competing in that aside from other stuff,” she added.
Eala won the women’s singles gold medal at last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. She also has competed in all four Grand Slam tournaments and several Masters events.
The Asian Games will mark Eala’s second appearance at the continental competition. She made her debut at the pandemic-delayed Hangzhou Games in 2023 and won bronze medals in women’s singles and mixed doubles.
The Philippines has not won an Asian Games tennis gold medal since Johnny Jose claimed the men’s singles title at the 1962 Games in Jakarta.
Eala will enter the Asian Games as a leading contender for the women’s singles title and could give the Philippines its first tennis gold medal in more than six decades.
Tennis competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will run from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3 at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center.
The Asian Games schedule overlaps with the China Open, but Eala said the opportunity to compete for the Philippine team influenced her decision.
