Alex Eala opens quest for Asian Games gold, Olympic berth with dominant win

FOREHAND. Tennis player Alex Eala in action for the Philippines in the 2026 Asian Games.

PSC-POC Media Pool

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala needs just a little less than an hour to dispatch Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej and advance to the quarterfinals of the women's singles event in the 2026 Asian Games

MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala means business as she opened her bid for a gold medal and an Olympic berth in the Asian Games.

The Filipina tennis star made quick work of Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej, scoring a dominant 6-1, 6-0 win in the round of 16 of the women’s singles event at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Nagoya, Japan, on Monday, September 28. 

Shrugging off a rain delay that forced organizers to move the match indoors, Eala needed just 55 minutes to see off Cheapchandej, who is ranked outside the world top 500.

The highest-ranked player in the Asian Games at world No. 18, Eala received the top seed and earned a first-round bye. 

Eala will face Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland in the quarterfinals, where a win would guarantee the Filipina another Asian Games medal after she clinched a bronze in the 2023 edition in Hangzhou, China.

Coming off a surprise exit from the Singapore Open, Eala looks to redeem herself as she seeks to end the Philippines’ decades-long drought for a tennis gold medal in the quadrennial showpiece.

The last time the country won an Asian Games gold in the sport came in 1962, when Johnny Jose ruled the men’s singles division. 

Eala entered the competition as the title favorite, with world No. 1 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, No. 17 Naomi Osaka of Japan, and defending champion Zheng Qinwen of China skipping the Asian Games to compete in the China Open.

A golden finish will also propel Eala to a maiden Olympic appearance as the men’s and women’s singles champions directly qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. – Rappler.com