The very first Philippine Women’s Open is nearly upon us as Alexandra Eala plays professional tennis in her home country for the first time.
Alexandra Eala’s first Philippine Women’s Open opponent has been confirmed as she looks to win the second WTA 125 tournament of her career.
The Filipina star is the second seed for the tournament, behind Tatjana Maria, and the likes of Donna Vekic and Lulu Sun will also play in the Manila event.
On the eve of the first WTA tournament in the Philippines, Sports Commissioner Pato Gregorio has discussed plans for more tournaments in the country.
WTA events could come to other cities in the Philippines
Ahead of the event, Gregorio was confident that the Philippine Women’s Open would open the door for more tournaments in the country.
He even confirmed plans to upgrade the event to a WTA 250 event, which would attract more top players to the country.
Does anybody else even come close to Alex Eala’s popularity right now?
“Give us 250 if we pass this test because I am sure that with Alex [Eala] still developing and soon she will be top 20 in the world, they’ll give us 250,” said Gregorio.
The PSC chief also confirmed plans for another city to host a WTA 125 event, if Manila is upgraded to a 250.
“Together we can develop and introduce a WTA 125 in another city in the Philippines, maybe Cebu,” he said after taking inspiration from some of the biggest tennis countries on the WTA calendar.
“I was told it could happen because in China they have five WTAs and in Italy they have eight WTAs. That is how we start planning, that is how we support Philippines tennis.
“All of this we’re doing because this one great young lady who is now at the forefront, our inspiration, and her name is Alex Eala.”
Alexandra Eala says if she expects to win the Philippine Women’s Open
Eala will surely be one of the favourites to lift her home trophy, but she has played down her tag as one of the favourites.
Speaking at her Philippine Women’s Open press conference, she explained: “I never — going into any tournament whatsoever — I never go in expecting to win the whole thing.
How high do you think Alexandra Eala’s ceiling is?
“So although this is at home, my mindset in that sense is no different,” she said in a press conference before the main draw.
“So I take it match by match. I’ll do everything I can to win my first one. But if not, you know, it is what it is. You can’t win all the time.”
Eala is arriving to the Philippine Women’s Open having lost both of her Australian Open first round matches, in the singles and doubles.
