Alex Eala will be the main event as the Philippine Women’s Open main draw finally begins, with the Filipina ace taking on Russian challenger Alina Charaeva to start things off.
Alex Eala takes center stage as she launches her campaign in the Philippine Women’s Open, the country’s first-ever WTA tournament.
The Filipina ace will square off with Russia’s Alina Charaeva in the Round of 32 on Monday, January 26, at 7:00 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Seeded no. 2 in the landmark event, Eala enters the matchup as the clear favorite, buoyed by both form and familiarity.
Currently ranked world no. 49, Eala stands well ahead of Charaeva, who sits at no. 163 and has spent most of her career grinding it out on the ITF circuit.
Still, the duel carries a layer of intrigue—Eala last faced the Russian back in 2020, where she absorbed a 6-3, 6-3 defeat in straight sets.
Much has changed since then.
Eala has grown into a seasoned WTA competitor, gaining valuable experience against elite opposition on the global stage.
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That growth, paired with home-court advantage, makes her the player to beat as she plays in front of what is expected to be a sold-out center court, hungry to witness a piece of Philippine tennis history.
But while the numbers favor Eala, complacency won’t be an option.
Charaeva enters with nothing to lose and everything to gain, eyeing what would be the biggest win of her career.
For Eala, the challenge is clear: harness the crowd’s energy, respect the opponent, and set the tone for a deep run in a tournament that could mark a defining chapter in Philippine tennis.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]