![History made: Eala becomes the first Filipino in an Indian Wells main draw. [WTA Instagram]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot_687-400x200.png)
Alex Eala became the first Filipino to appear in the Indian Wells main draw and advanced to face Coco Gauff after a hard-fought 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska.
![Alex Eala pushed a world No. 2 seed and showed why her rise is real. [photo credit: WTA Instagram]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot_631-400x200.png)
Alex Eala’s breakthrough run at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open came to an end after a hard-fought quarterfinal loss to world No. 2 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, but the Filipina teenager once again proved she belongs on the WTA stage.
![Eala reacts after sealing the win in a tense third-set tiebreak. [photo credit: WTA Instagram]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot_627-400x200.png)
Alexandra Eala stared down defeat against Aliaksandra Sasnovich but flipped the script with a gritty comeback, surviving a match point to seal a dramatic three-set win in Abu Dhabi.
![Kaye Ann Emana (third from left) earned a wild card slot to the Philippine Women's Open qualifying round after beating Elizabeth Abarquez (second from left) in the finals of the PHILTA qualifying meet at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center last Thursday night. [PSC photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot_557-400x200.png)
UAAP Season 87 MVP Kaye Ann Emana advanced to the Philippine Women’s Open qualifying draw after defeating NU’s Elizabeth Abarquez in a hard-fought match in Manila.