Alexandra Eala to play Asian Games in Nagoya as PHILTA seeks WTA exemption from China Open

Alexandra Eala has opted to represent the Philippines at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games instead of competing at the China Open in Beijing, the Philippine Tennis Association said on Tuesday, and PHILTA has formally requested an exemption from the WTA on her behalf.

Eala currently sits at No.18 in the WTA rankings and is the highest-ranked player in the women’s singles draw at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The tennis schedule at the Games overlaps with the China Open, a WTA 1000 event in Beijing that begins on September 30, and skipping a mandatory tournament without an approved exemption can lead to ranking penalties and fines.

Eala arrives in Nagoya following a title run at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington in August, where she beat Leylah Fernandez, Elina Svitolina and Naomi Osaka en route to the final before defeating top seed Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 to claim her first WTA 500 crown.

Her form continued through the North American hard-court swing: she reached the fourth round of the National Bank Open in Toronto with wins over Alycia Parks and Caty McNally before losing to 12th seed Belinda Bencic, and she made the third round at the Cincinnati Open after defeating Elena-Gabriela Ruse and then falling to ninth seed Amanda Anisimova.

At the US Open Eala advanced to the third round, opening with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Mary Stoiana and then a 6-1, 6-4 win against Oleksandra Oliynykova before losing a three-set match to 14th seed Iva Jovic; her breakthrough year also included a Wimbledon fourth-round appearance in which she defeated third seed Iga Swiatek in the second round prior to losing to 13th seed Jasmine Paolini.

PHILTA Secretary General John Rey Tiangco said in a statement to media on Tuesday: "We have formally requested an exemption and we respect the WTA’s process. At the same time, Alex has made her decision to represent the Philippines at the Asian Games, and we fully support her." Earlier this week Indonesia’s Janice Tjen withdrew from the Games after being unable to secure an exemption from the China Open.

Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino said: "The WTA has its rules and breaking the rules has penalties. But Alex will be in Nagoya, for flag and country," and Tolentino added that Eala will compete in Nagoya regardless of the WTA’s decision. The WTA currently lists Eala at No. 18 with a 40-21 singles record in 2026 and one WTA title.

Eala’s choice means she will not participate in the China Open, where her entry would have been mandatory under WTA rules; whether the WTA grants PHILTA’s requested exemption will determine if any ranking penalties or fines are applied, and she will enter the Asian Games as the Philippines’ highest-ranked women’s singles player and one of the country’s leading medal contenders.