Top Seed Eala Opens Nagoya Bid vs Familiar Rival

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Alexandra “Alex” Eala begins her hunt for Asian Games gold on Monday. The top-seeded Filipina tennis star opens the women’s singles tournament at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Japan. She faces an opponent she has already beaten before.

World No. 18 Eala is coming off a first-round bye. She faces Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej in the Round of 16 at the 20th Asian Games. An official match time has yet to be set.

Alexandra Eala begins her Asian Games singles campaign as the top seed at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center. [POC Media pool]

Eala Holds Head-to-Head Edge Over Cheapchandej

Eala enters with a clear psychological edge. She previously beat the 31-year-old Thai player, 6-3, 6-4, at the 2022 ITF Thailand 05A event. Cheapchandej, ranked No. 510, reached this round after beating Pakistan’s Mahin Aftab Qureshi, 6-1, 6-1.

Despite her top billing, the 21-year-old Eala remains cautious after a rough result in her last outing. She lost in the second round of the 2026 Singapore Tennis Open. The 6-4, 5-7, 3-6 defeat came against Russia’s Tatiana Prozorova, ranked No. 180.

“I think I have as big a chance as any other person on the draw [in the Asian Games]. I think once you compete and, like I said, once you’re in the draw, you have a chance so I’ll do my best,” Eala said following her Singapore loss.

Eala Chases Gold, Doubles Bid With Rivera

Eala is looking to build on the bronze medal she won at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. A strong showing in Nagoya would also boost the Philippines’ gold tally. The count currently stands at two, following gymnastics star Carlos Yulo’s achievements.

Beyond her singles campaign, Eala will pair with Shaira Hope Rivera in women’s doubles. The Filipino duo opens against Hong Kong’s Lai Ching Laam and Kallista Liu.

In other singles action, 19-year-old Filipina Tennielle Madis was eliminated early. She fell 1-6, 0-6 to seventh seed Himeno Sakatsume of host nation Japan. Madis has since shifted her focus to doubles.

Madis will pair with Stefi Marithe Aludo in women’s doubles. They open against Indonesia’s Anjali Kirana Junarto and Meydiana Laviola Reinnamah. Both Filipino pairs will look to keep the country’s medal hopes alive in Nagoya.