Alexandra Eala of the Philippines has opted to represent her country at the Asian Games instead of competing at the China Open, a mandatory WTA 1000 event, which could lead to a fine of $10,000. Eala made this decision after withdrawing from the Beijing tournament, acknowledging the weight of her choice. "It was a decision I didn’t take lightly," she told SNTV after her second-round victory at the Asian Games.
Read More
Eala, currently ranked 18th, expressed her disappointment at missing out on a prestigious event like the China Open but emphasized her excitement to compete for her country. In her latest match, she defeated Patcharin Cheapchandej of Thailand with a score of 6-1, 6-0.
Last year, Eala captured bronze medals in singles and mixed doubles alongside Francis Alcantara at the Asian Games and is considered a strong contender for gold this time around. “I’m as eager as anybody and maybe even a little more,” she said, highlighting her determination.
Earlier this year, Eala made headlines by defeating defending champion Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon and later secured her first WTA Tour title in Washington. She also reached the third round of the U.S. Open and is set to compete against Joanna Garland of Taiwan in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.