ALEX Eala said she plans to compete for the Philippines at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December and is thrilled that plans are in motion to hold a WTA event for the first in the country.
Speaking at the end of her campaign at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open on Thursday night, the 20-year old bared plans to cap year highlighted by her historic breakthrough at the WTA tour with, hopefully, a SEA Games medal.
"It is in my plans," said Eala, responding to a mediaman's question after her campaign in Hong Kong was ended at the round-of-16 stage by third-seeded Victoria Mboko, 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, in a two-hour and 27-minute thiller.
READ Eala just falls short in two-and-a-half-hour battle with Mboko
Eala has won bronze medals in singles, team and mixed doubles the first and only time she competed in the SEA Games in 2022 in Hanoi, and a bronze in singles and mixed doubles at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
But the world No. 51 should be a hands-down favorite to medal in Thailand after a year that saw her make history with a run to the semifinals at the WTA 1000 Miami Open in March and a maiden WTA 125 title in Guadalajara.
Eala has always expressed hope that her accomplishments would spur the growth of tennis in her homeland and she sees plans by both the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) to host a WTA 125 event in Manila in January as a 'big step' in that direction.
"If it were to happen, I would be so, so happy and it would be such a milestone for Philippine tennis," Eala, who just wrapped up her season with a sixth tournament in the WTA's Asian swing, said. "Not just obviously for me but for everybody there."
"Growing up, we never had this kind of tournaments. As long as I can remember, we never had any 15k or a professional international tournament. So to come in with a (WTA) 125 would be such a big step and I'm proud of how far we've come.
"But it's only the start, so I'm so happy with that news, even if it's just in the talks [stage]. The fact that they're taking a step and we're taking action is something I'm so proud of and excited to see evolve," she added.
READ PSC, Philta plan to bring WTA 125 event to Manila
PSC chairman Pato Gregorio said it was Eala who inspired the ambitious plan.
"Alex made us realize that we can do much more for Philippine Tennis. It deserves a home in the Philippines — a home for tennis and a home for Alex. We will work with Philta and with other tennis stakeholders to make this happen in the near future," Gregorio said.
The targeted dates of the WTA 125 Philippine Open run in conflict with the Australian Open, the first tennis grand slam of 2026. But Gregorio said he and Philta secretary-general and Navotas mayor John Ray Tiangco are in 'close contact and strong collab' with the Eala camp.
"Thank you for inspiring us, Alex. We look forward to cheering for you on home courts soon," Gregorio said.
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