Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts tagged as “20th Asian Games”

Alex Eala Shuts Out Garland to Secure Historic Asian Games Medal

September 30, 2026
Alex Eala Shuts Out Garland to Secure Historic Asian Games Medal

Alex Eala kept her golden campaign alive while securing at least a bronze medal, beating Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland 7-5, 6-0 in the women’s singles quarterfinals of the 2026 Asian Games on Wednesday.

The first set was a grind. Garland, the eighth seed and world No. 143, put Eala under pressure early, trading breaks with the Filipino as neither player established sustained control. The set stretched past an hour before Eala broke Garland and then held serve to close it out.

The second set was a different story. Eala raced to a 2-0 lead, broke again, then broke to love for 3-0. Garland never won a game. Eala answered every threat with service winners and an ace, and closed on her second match point after Garland sent a shot wide.

The world No. 18 and top seed had opened her campaign with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej. She also withdrew from the China Open in Beijing, a mandatory WTA 1000 event, to play in Nagoya, a decision she said she did not take lightly. Wednesday’s result suggests it was worth it.

Eala now moves into the semifinals with a bronze medal already in hand and will face Wang Xiyu from China in SemiFinals.

Alex Eala Sweeps Patcharin Cheapchandej 6-1, 6-0 at the Asian Games

September 28, 2026
Alex Eala Sweeps Patcharin Cheapchandej 6-1, 6-0 at the Asian Games

Top seed Alex Eala began her Asian Games gold bid with a dominant win. She beat Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej 6-1, 6-0 at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center’s Indoor Court C on Monday.

The highly anticipated matchup faced early complications as heavy rainfall disrupted outdoor scheduling, forcing a delay of nearly five hours before tournament officials moved the contest inside to Indoor Court C. The wait didn’t bother the world No. 18. Eala broke early in the second set, went up 5-0, and finished with an ace.

The result was expected. Eala, seeded first, had a first-round bye, and she had already beaten Cheapchandej 6-3, 6-4 at a 2022 ITF event. It also helps her recover from a Round of 16 exit at the Singapore Tennis Open. 

Her next match will be against Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland in the quarterfinals.

Alex Eala Chooses Asian Games Over China Open Despite Facing WTA Penalties

September 13, 2026
Alex Eala Chooses Asian Games Over China Open Despite Facing WTA Penalties

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala will lead the Philippine tennis delegation at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, set to run from September 19 to October 4, 2026. Fresh off a career-high ranking inside the world’s top 20, the 21-year-old will represent the nation in both Women’s Singles and Mixed Doubles alongside veteran Francis Casey Alcantara.

Eala’s participation comes with high stakes. The Asian Games tennis schedule (September 27 to October 3) directly overlaps with the mandatory WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing. Under WTA Tour rules, qualified top-tier players are contractually required to compete in mandatory WTA 1000 tournaments. Because Eala chose to prioritize representing her country in Japan over the event in China, she faces strict tour enforcement.

The penalties for unexcused absences from mandatory WTA 1000 events are two-fold: a financial late-withdrawal fine of around $10,000 USD and a mandatory “zero-point” score applied to her 52-week ranking breakdown. This zero-point penalty locks up a valuable tournament slot on her ranking tally that would otherwise be occupied by points earned from another WTA event, dealing a minor blow to her ranking progress.

The Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA) formally petitioned the WTA for an official exemption on national representation grounds. However, her chances of being granted a waiver are virtually zero. The WTA recently denied an identical exemption request submitted by Indonesian star Janice Tjen, forcing Tjen to withdraw from the Asian Games to avoid penalties. Because the WTA Rulebook strictly limits non-penalty exemptions to medical injuries and specific personal hardship, the tour maintains a firm policy against waiving penalties for non-ITF multi-sport events.

Knowing the consequences, Eala remains steadfast in her decision, accepting the financial fine and ranking hit to chase Asian Games glory for the Philippines.