Did You Know? Alex Eala Was an Inspiration for the Philippines' First WTA Event

The Philippines has cheered for Alex Eala from afar—through early-morning livestreams, late-night score checks, and the collective pride of watching a young Filipina rise on tennis’ global stage. But next year, that support finally gets a home court. Manila is officially hosting its first-ever WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) tournament in 2026, and according to multiple reports, Alex herself helped spark the movement to make it happen.

According to ABS-CBN News, Alex’s post-match interview at the 2024 US Open—where she thanked the Filipino crowd that made New York feel like home—was the turning point. She noted that there was no home tournament for Filipino players, and the remark struck a chord with Philippine tennis officials.

In a press conference as reported by the news outlet, Philippine Lawn Tennis Association (PHILTA) secretary-general John Rey Tiangco said that the WTA itself reached out after seeing the clip. “Did you see this interview of Alex? We had to work on this,” a WTA officer reportedly said. The secretary-general added that Alex became “one of the inspirations” behind launching the country’s first WTA 125 event.

The timing couldn’t be better. Alex has climbed to her career-high No. 50 in the rankings, thanks in part to her strong 2025 season—including her title win at the Guadalajara 125. Her new standing gives her direct entry into the 2026 Australian Open, which overlaps with the Philippine Women’s Open. A deep run in Melbourne might keep her from playing in Manila, but Philippine Sports Commission chairman Pato Gregorio earlier told One Sports that “Alex’s availability will not be an issue.”

Whether she competes or not, Alex is fully behind the event. In a video message at a press conference, she said, “The first WTA event to be held in the Philippines… it’s all thanks to the efforts of the Philippine tennis leaders, and I’m so grateful. As a player, I could not be more proud to say that Pilipinas now has a whole tennis tournament.”

Set for January 26 to 31, 2026, the Philippine Women’s Open marks the country’s entry into the WTA calendar as a WTA 125 tournament. It will feature a 32-player singles draw, a 16-team doubles field, and a total prize commitment of $115,000. Players from more than a dozen countries have already expressed interest, according to ABS-CBN.

The tournament will be held on hard courts at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, which is now undergoing upgrades. Chairman Gregorio told One Sports that renovations include court improvements and expanded spectator seating to accommodate more than 2,000 fans—an essential step as the country positions itself for even bigger events down the line.

Both PHILTA and the PSC see the 2026 event as a launchpad. John Rey Tiangco explained that hosting a successful WTA 125 could open the door to WTA 250 or even WTA 500 tournaments in the future. Pato Gregorio echoed this ambition in the same report, saying that if the Philippines is going to dream, it “might as well dream big.”

Beyond logistics and rankings, the tournament arrives at a cultural moment for tennis in the country. GMA Network notes that PHILTA hopes the event inspires the next generation of players—and gives Filipino fans the rare chance to watch top-tier women’s tennis live.