MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala will play her first WTA 125 event on home soil against Alina Charaeva of Russia in the 2026 Philippine Women’s Open on Monday, Jan. 26, at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Malate, Manila. Eala is currently ranked 49th in the world and Charaeva is 163rd. Eala, who booked a main draw ticket in the Australian Open after cracking into the Top 50, made an early exit in the Grand Slam tournament after losing to Alycia Parks in the first round last Monday. Charaeva played in the 2025 WTA 500 in Tokyo and has won eight ITF singles titles and six ITF doubles titles.
