Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Pato Gregorio on Thursday said in Manila that he expects the Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) relationship with the Philippines to strengthen after the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open this month as the country hosts a WTA 125-level event at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Gregorio told reporters that the Philippine Women’s Open currently holds a WTA 125 classification and that organizers plan to build on this level of competition in future editions of the tournament.
He explained that the WTA 125 designation reflects the ranking points that the eventual champion will earn from the Philippine Women’s Open.
Gregorio said the PSC continues to supervise renovations at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex to meet WTA standards and to support the staging of the Philippine Women’s Open.
He said the upgraded venue aims to provide players, including Filipino participants, with facilities comparable to those in other international WTA events.
Gregorio confirmed that Filipino tennis player Alex Eala has committed to compete in the Philippine Women’s Open.
He said Eala’s participation in the WTA 125 event forms part of the broader effort to raise the profile of tennis in the Philippines.
Gregorio stated that the PSC coordinates with tennis stakeholders and organizers to ensure that the Philippine Women’s Open meets WTA requirements.
He added that the PSC considers the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open an opportunity to showcase the country’s capability to host higher-level tennis competitions in the future.