ALEX Eala will not only go for gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, she will also be going for a spot in the tennis competitions at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
A look at the LA 2028 qualification system by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) shows that the singles winners of four Continental Qualification tournaments including the 2026 Asian Games will punch a ticket to the Olympics.
READ Eala, Yulo, Obiena banner 464-strong PH delegation to Asian Games
The 2027 Pan American Games, 2027 African Games, and the 2027 Pacific Games are the other Continental Qualification tournaments, according to the ITF.
The world No. 18 Eala can also secure an Olympic berth by staying within the Top 56 in the world rankings by June 12, 2028, under the Direct Acceptance category, but the Filipina tennis superstar can already get her ticket to Los Angeles as early as October 3 if she wins the Asiad women’s singles title that day.
A total of 64 slots in the singles competition each for women and men are available in the LA Olympics.
If Eala makes it to the Olympics, she will be the first Filipina to do so, and the first since Manny Tolentino competed in the men’s singles in 1984, also in Los Angeles.
Eala risks WTA penalty
Eala has decided to play in the Asian Games and skip the China Open, a WTA 1000 event, although she faces a penalty for missing the mandatory WTA event.
“I love playing and competing with the Philippine team in the SEA Games, the Asian Games, I’ve also done that,” Eala said after she was eliminated by Iva Jovic, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, in the third round of the US Open.
Eala has given the Philippines a gold medal in the 2025 SEA Games after beating Mananchaya Sawangkaew of host Thailand last December.
“I think it’s a really fun environment and I love being with the team especially in this last SEA Games in December. I had such a great time and I think they are really memories that stick with me.
“The Asian Games happens once every four years and I found myself drawn to competing in that, aside from other stuff,” Eala added.
The Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) is appealing the possible penalty to Eala for her non-participation in the China Open.
“We have formally informed the WTA that Alex will be representing the Philippines at the Asian Games and have requested an exemption so she will not be penalized for missing a WTA 1000 event,” said Philta secretary general John Rey Tiangco in a statement.
“Alex herself has made it clear that representing the Philippines is an honor and that she is choosing to play for the flag. We fully support that decision and are doing everything we can to ensure that choosing to represent her country does not come at the expense of her standing on the WTA Tour,” Tiangco said.
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