THE Rizal Memorial Tennis Center will be refurbished for the country’s hosting of a WTA 125 event in Manila which organizers hope will be topbilled by Filipina rising star Alex Eala, said Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio.
Gregorio said the tournament to be named WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open is already a go based on his communication with the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) led by secretary general and Navotas mayor John Rey Tiangco.
“’Yun po ang report sa akin ni sec-gen John Rey,” said Gregorio on Thursday, when asked if the WTA 125 Manila event will push through.
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“Sa Rizal na po ‘yan,” Gregorio added on the sidelines of the Batang Pinoy 2025 launch at the Century Park Hotel in Manila.
The PSC chairman said the tennis venue inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila will be spruced up as the WTA event will require the use of three of Rizal Memorial Tennis Center’s seven courts.
“Parang ang requirement is three tennis courts. Pagdating ng finals niyan, kailangan wala na ‘yung dalawang tennis courts, para ‘yung tennis courts na dalawa, gagawin na siyang stands,” said Gregorio.
Gregorio said the PSC will fast-track the facelift to comply with WTA regulations just in time for the targeted January 26-February 1 competition date.
“Papaspasan po natin ‘yan. Kakayanin naman natin ‘yan. January pa naman ‘yan,” said Gregorio. “Papaspasan natin ‘yung renovations. Papaspasan natin ‘yung stands."
“Hahabulin natin ‘yan dahil WTA 125 at gusto natin maglaro diyan si Alex Eala. Kausap ko na si sec gen John Rey Tiangco ng Navotas - very aggressive, very young, great sports leader,” he added.
The WTA 125 is the second-tier women’s competition behind the WTA Tour where prize money ranges from $125,000 to $200,000. Eala won her first title in a WTA 125 event in Guadalajara last September.
The hosting is part of the PSC’s push for sports tourism in the country under the stewardship of Gregorio.
Gregorio said Philta wants to make the WTA 125 an annual event which could possibly be held at New Clark City, Tarlac after the federation recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bases Conversion Development Authority for a 10-hectare property where a proposed Philippine Tennis Center will be built.
"Hopefully, by next year, mas maganda na. Baka nasa Clark na tayo. Pero let’s start now,” said Gregorio.
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