The Philippine Tennis Association has formally asked the WTA to waive the Beijing event so the world number 18 can compete in Aichi-Nagoya. Secretary-general John Rey Tiangco said: “We have formally requested an exemption and we respect the WTA’s process. At the same time, Alex has made her decision to represent the Philippines at the Asian Games, and we fully support her.”
The Games run from 19 September to 4 October. Tennis at Higashiyama Park overlaps with the WTA 1000 China Open, which starts in Beijing on 30 September. Top-30 players who skip a mandatory 1000 without an exemption face ranking penalties and fines of about US$10,000.
Indonesian Janice Tjen withdrew from the Asian Games after failing to secure a similar waiver. Eala will not. Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said: “The WTA has its rules and breaking the rules has penalties. But Alex will be in Nagoya, for flag and country.”
Senator Erwin Tulfo called on the government to cover any fine. “If she is being fined because she chose to represent our people, isn’t it only right that the government extends its assistance?” He said the honour of representation was “a price worth paying for.”
The 21-year-old has had a career-best season, winning her first WTA 1000 title last month and reaching the third round of the US Open. She has beaten Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff. She will play the Singapore Open before travelling to Japan.
Eala won bronze in singles and mixed doubles at Hangzhou in 2022. An Asian Games tennis gold doubles as Olympic qualification for Los Angeles 2028, subject to a top-500 ranking. She is the highest-ranked player in the women’s singles draw in Nagoya.