As Filipina rising star Alexandra “Alex” Eala outclassed Russian rival Alina Charaeva with a 6-1, 6-2 trashing at the start of the first-ever Philippine Women’s Open at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila, current world No. 1 singles champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus cited the 20-year-old’s impact on Philippine tennis.
Sabalenka had at the start defended Eala, shocking the entire tennis world by speaking up to describe the country’s tennis icon as a huge boost to local sports and an athlete whose humility is worth emulating by her fellow countrymen.
Sabalenka’s defense wasn’t just about standing up for a fellow athlete—it was a powerful message to the entire tennis community.
“She’s not wrong; she’s a strong and independent woman. Insulting her is insulting yourself,” the Belarusian’s words echoed. And for Eala, this wasn’t just support—it was recognition.
In yesterday’s opening match, the 5-foot-9-inch (1.75-meter) lass from Quezon City overwhelmed Charaeva for a rousing home debut, putting on an impressive show for her fans in Round 1 of the 2026 Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 125 tournament.
The country’s pride needed just 76 minutes to run away against her foe with the victory and remain—as expected—the only Filipina standing in the 32-player main draw of this trailblazing tourney.
Eala, WTA No. 49, did it behind masterful closeouts, staging a 5-0 finishing kick in the first and a 6-0 dagger in the second set from a 0-2 deficit, eliciting a standing ovation from the adoring Filipino faithful.
The second-seeded ace, who’s the first Filipina to barge into the world’s Top 50, will face tomorrow either world No. 140 Himeno Sakatsume or No. 204 Nao Hibino, both from Japan, in Round 2 of the tourney.
“Matagal ko na itong pinapangarap, so gusto ko lang magpasalamat sa inyong lahat,” Eala enthused after her triumph.
“Playing home matches is like seeing my two worlds collide, Manila and the WTA Tour. It’s a reflection of how far I and tennis here have come. Nothing compares to the feeling of playing in front of the Filipinos, so I will do my best and try to enjoy,” she added to conclude.