Philippine sports officials will begin operational testing of the newly renovated courts at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center on Monday, Jan. 12, just two weeks ahead of the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open (PWO).

Over the next three days, the country’s top female players will compete for national ranking points and a wildcard into the maiden WTA 125 event, while the matches will also evaluate the recent court renovations.

“The matches will not only test the facilities of the tennis center but also serve as a qualifying event for local players aiming to compete in the Philippine Women’s Open,” said Dyan Castillejo, PHILTA board member and co-Tournament Director.

Local playoffs test venue readiness

Philippine No. 1 Alex Eala and rising star Tennielle Madis of M’lang, Cotabato, have already been granted wildcards and will not play in the national playoffs. Eala’s participation in the PWO, however, depends on her performance at the Australian Open, as the PWO main draw overlaps the second week of Melbourne’s Grand Slam.

The primary goal of this week’s matches is to stress-test the facility’s upgrades. “We need to evaluate the ball bounce and traction on the newly resurfaced hard courts under competitive conditions,” Castillejo said. “This testing phase allows us to make any final technical adjustments to meet international standards for a WTA 125 event.”

Three opening-round matches are scheduled for Monday. No. 2 seed and 2025 SEA Games bronze medalist Stefi Aludo faces Justine Hannah Maneja, Nina Angeline Alcala takes on Elizabeth Abarquez, and Kaye Anne Emana meets Joanna Peña. Top seed Tiffany Nocos has an opening-round bye and will meet the winner of the Emana-Peña match in the semifinals.

International field set for historic debut

At least 24 players from 19 countries have signed up for the PWO, including top international competitors like Croatian Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic, China’s Wang Xinyu, and German veteran Tatjana Maria, a former Wimbledon semifinalist. Some players may face rematches from recent tournaments, such as Vekic and Eala after their three-set thriller in Auckland.

Castillejo expressed appreciation to the Philippine Sports Commission for their support in the court renovations and technical oversight, which will ensure the PWO meets global competitive standards.

The operational testing this week marks a final preparation phase for both local players and the venue, setting the stage for the Philippines’ first WTA 125 tournament.