Singapore will play host to Southeast Asia’s only WTA 500 tournament in 2026 with the Singapore Tennis Open.
Elite competition is moving closer to home for Alex Eala as the Singapore Tennis Open will be upgraded to a WTA 500 tournament beginning 2026 through to 2030.
Eala finished numerous tiffs in Asia in the past few days but the leveled-up Singapore Tennis Open will be a chance at higher competition with a WTA 500-level tournament.
Previously, the STO was a WTA 250 tournament. And it will be treated as a WTA 500 joust starting September 21 next year, with competition days lasting until September 26.
The tournament will be held at the Singapore Sports Hub.
The Singapore Tennis Invitational Cup will also take place alongside the STO, marking a busy time for Singapore tennis.
“The inaugural Singapore Tennis Open in January received excellent feedback all around, a true testament to how successful the event was.” said WTA CEO Portia Archer in the official release from the WTA.
“The WTA is excited to see it being staged in 2026 as a 500-level tournament which I'm sure will attract many top players to compete in front of Singapore's passionate fans.” she added.
Singapore was the only stop of a WTA-level tournament in 2025, marking the return of high-level women's tennis to the country since the 2018 WTA Finals.
The inaugural STO, held last January 27 to February 2, was ruled by Belgium’s Elise Mertens.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.