NAGOYA, Japan — Alex Eala will lead a five-member Philippine tennis team at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with hopes of upgrading the two bronze medals she won in Hangzhou in 2023.
The Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA) has entered Eala in the women’s singles and women’s doubles, where she will partner with Shaira Rivera. Tennielle Madis will compete in women’s singles and team up with Stefi Aludo in doubles.
Francis Alcantara and Rivera will complete the Philippine entry in mixed doubles.
The tennis competition is scheduled to begin September 27 at the Nagoya City courts.
Eala enters the Games as the world No. 18, the highest-ranked Filipino and Southeast Asian player in WTA Tour history. She is also the first Filipina to break into the WTA top 20.
The 21-year-old has since defeated top-10 opponents, reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam and won her first WTA Tour title at the 2026 Washington Open.
PHILTA secretary general John Rey Tiangco said the federation appreciates Eala’s decision to compete in the Asian Games despite a demanding international schedule.
Following the US Open, Eala is scheduled to play in the WTA 500 tournament in Singapore before traveling to Nagoya.
The Asian Games will overlap with the China Open, a mandatory WTA 1000 event. PHILTA has informed the WTA that Eala will represent the Philippines in Nagoya and has requested an exemption from potential penalties.
Eala won bronze medals in women’s singles and mixed doubles with Alcantara at the 2023 Asian Games after losing in both semifinals.
The medals ended a long Philippine medal drought in Asian Games tennis, but Eala is now aiming for the country’s first gold in the event.
