Alex Eala Targets Wuhan Open Progress in Singles and Doubles

Filipino tennis player Alex Eala will return to the WTA Tour at the 2026 Wuhan Open in China, beginning October 12, after earning bronze at the 20th Asian Games. The world No. 18 enters as the tournament's 13th seed and will compete in both singles and doubles, partnering Turkish player Zeynep Sonmez in the latter event.

According to The Manila Times, Eala is scheduled to receive a first-round bye in singles before facing a qualifier. Depending on the draw's progression, she could subsequently meet Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova, ranked No. 28, or Canada's Leylah Fernandez, ranked No. 26. The tournament runs through October 18 at the Optics Valley International Tennis Centre on outdoor hard courts.

Eala has previously faced both potential opponents. She lost to Alexandrova, 3-6, 3-6, in the Abu Dhabi Open quarterfinals in February and to Fernandez, 1-6, 4-6, in the Stuttgart Open round of 32 in April. She later defeated Fernandez, 6-2, 7-6(1), in the Mubadala DC Open round of 16 in August before winning her first WTA title.

In doubles, Eala and Sonmez will face Ukrainian pair Anhelina Kalinina and Dayana Yastremska in the opening round scheduled for October 12, according to SunStar. The Filipino-Turkish partnership previously competed at the Madrid Open in May, reaching the second round after defeating Chan Hao-Ching of Chinese Taipei and Fanny Stollar before losing to Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova, 6-1, 7-5.

The Wuhan draw offers Eala an opportunity to build momentum after her recent results in Singapore and at the Asian Games. She exited the Singapore Open in the round of 16 against Tatiana Prozorova before losing to China's Wang Xiyu in the Asian Games semifinals. Eala finished with bronze, matching her singles result at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

The Philippines Tennis Association executive director Tonette Mendoza explained that the WTA had asked the federation whether Eala independently chose the Asian Games over the China Open in Beijing, where she could otherwise have competed.

"So, the WTA just asked us a few questions if she made the decision on her own, meaning it was not under pressure from anybody in the government or national federation - if it is an Olympic qualifier for our country, to which we said yes," said Tonette Mendoza, PHILTA executive director.

Mendoza described the subsequent communication from the tour as limited.

"Then they just never got back to us," said Mendoza.

Eala also discussed the responsibility associated with representing the Philippines and serving as a role model during an appearance with tennis great Maria Sharapova on the Pretty Tough podcast. She emphasized the importance of maintaining her own values while navigating growing public attention.

"One thing about this whole journey of support that I've been getting is I understand the weight that the representation holds, and I know that there's a big audience that looks up to me, but I guess it forces me to look inward as well. I'll die on a hill saying that you need to be genuine," said Eala.

She connected that outlook with her desire to set an example through her own conduct rather than simply meet outside expectations.

"I want to be the best version I can be of myself so that I'm genuinely a good example for whoever looks up to me," said Eala.

Meanwhile, The Manila Times reported that Eala was projected to drop from No. 18 to No. 19 in the WTA rankings on Monday, October 12, after Elise Mertens moved from No. 19 to No. 14. Eala had accumulated 2,276 ranking points. The Wuhan Open champion will earn 1,000 ranking points, with Aryna Sabalenka, a three-time Wuhan champion, among the leading players in the field alongside Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva and Iga Swiatek.