Alex Eala will play her first match since Wimbledon at the Washington Open.
After a breakthrough Wimbledon campaign, where she defeated six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, Eala will return to action in the United States.
She will play China’s Qinwen Zheng in the first round.
Who do you think will win the women’s singles title at the Washington Open this year?
Vote now!
Ahead of her opening match, Eala was asked if the big crowds of Filipino fans expected in Washington would be a burden for her.
Alex Eala says playing in front of so many Filipino fans is a ‘privilege’ not a ‘burden’
During her pre-tournament press conference, Eala shared her thoughts on her growing fan base.
“It’s definitely not a burden,” she said.
“I would describe it more as a privilege, you know, and I’m very privileged to be able to carry my flag and to represent everything that comes with that.
“I’m very grateful to everybody who comes out to see me. I think it’s great for them to also experience it, because I know a lot of them have never been to tennis events. So I’m happy also to be able to, in one way or another, introduce a tennis event in their life. Yeah, I think that it’s a beautiful thing.
“But, you know, when I approach these things, it’s always kind of what I have to do, what do I need to be prepared, what do I need to, how do I need to work and so on and so forth. I know what I need to do to get where I want to be, and I trust my team, so yeah.”
Eala was then asked if she had ever wondered why she is so popular.
“Maybe I haven’t. Well, no, I definitely – it’s never crossed my mind to ask, oh, why?” she said.
“I think it’s taken me by surprise a couple of times. I think each time you have to realize, kind of, or I have to realize what I carry when I’m out on court, who I represent.
“I do think that representation is a very powerful thing. It’s a very meaningful thing. I like to say that it’s very impactful when someone sees themselves in you.
“So I know that a lot of these people who come to see me, whether they’re Filipino or from wherever in the world, in one way or another, if they support me, they see a part of themselves in me.
“I guess I do my best, obviously, for my team and more for my family, but also for everybody who supports, yeah.”
Eala and her many fans will be hoping for a strong showing in the nation’s capital.
Can Alex Eala win the Washington Open?
According to our fans on TalkingPoints, Eala is the favourite to win the 2026 Washington Open.
| Player | Country | Vote share | WTA Rank |
| Alex Eala | Philippines | 45% | 28th |
| Naomi Osaka | Japan | 21% | 13th |
| Jessica Pegula | USA | 19 | 3rd |
| Someone else | – | 8% | – |
| Elina Svitolina | Ukraine | 7% | 10th |
But who will she need to beat to take the title?
Eala will first play Zheng, a former Olympic gold medalist.
If she can take down the Chinese star, she will meet Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in round two.
Fernandez is a quality player, although Eala would likely walk on court as the favourite to reach the quarter-finals.
However, it’s there that she could face her first major test.
Elina Svitolina has been in fine form this year and currently sits fifth in the ‘Live WTA Race’.
After losing in the first round of Wimbledon, the Ukrainian will be determined to bounce back and make a deep run at the Washington Open.
And the tests will only get tougher for Eala if she beats Svitolina, with Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula potentially awaiting her in the semi-finals and the final.
If the Filipina is to win her first tour-level title in Washington, she may need to produce a level we haven’t yet seen from her.
She won’t want to get too far ahead of herself, though, and will first focus on her opening match against Zheng.
Eala will play Zheng for a spot in the second round of the Washington Open on Tuesday, July 28.
