MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala answers the call of the flag and country as she committed to play in the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan next month, John Rey Tiangco, Philippine Tennis Association secretary general, said on Friday.
“Very excited, and she’s confirmed to play for the Asian Games,” Tiangco told the media.
The 21-year-old Eala, seeded No. 17 in the 2026 US Open, gears up for her upcoming grand slam bid in New York and after this she will head to Singapore.
“We’re very grateful to Alex; she really has a tight schedule. In fact, after the US Open, she’s going to Singapore to play a WTA 500, and right after Singapore, she will fly to Nagoya,” Tiangco said.
“There are a lot of simultaneous events that are along with the Asian Games, but she chose to play for the flag.”
Eala, currently ranked No. 18 in the world, won the bronze medal in the 19th edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, where she ended a 17-year medal drought for the Philippines in lawn tennis.
In the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand she won the gold medal, ending a 26-year drought for the Philippines in women’s singles tennis.
“Very proud, and we’re very happy that she can represent the Philippines. As we all know, the last time she won the gold in SEA Games, and I am positive that she will do well and do her best in this Asian Games,” he added.
