Alex Eala will kickstart her run at the Singapore Open on Thursday against Tatiana Prozorova.
She will continue her busy season at the WTA 500 tournament, which she enters as the world number 18 and with a 40/21 win/loss record for the 2026 season. But she feels fit and ready to shine at the event, where she is feeling right at home.
As is always the case with the Filipina superstar, Eala has a heavy following at the tournament, which director Yazed Osman has now discussed ahead of her first match in Singapore.
READ MORE: Alex Eala’s chances of winning the Singapore Open take a boost without her even playing a match
Singapore Open tournament director welcomes Alex Eala fans to the event
Speaking of the fans arriving at the Singapore Open to watch Eala, Osman said: “I’ve met some of them this morning. They came here and came quite early. I think they also want to soak in the atmosphere. So we welcome the Filipino community to support their star player.
“And I think for us as well is that this is something that we create, right? Not only just for tennis, but having that connection between the athletes and the spectators, the fans themselves, and what are the other opportunities that come through? You may inspire the next generation of players to be inspired. Because Eala came in when she was very young.”
A phenomenon now known as ‘Ealamania’, her fans can be expected to bring the noise for her opening match, with many already dreaming of the star lifting the trophy. It would represent her second WTA title, with her first having arrived earlier this year in Washington DC.
Alex Eala hailed as ‘amazing ambassador’ upon Singapore Open return
While Eala will be firmly focused on matters on the court, even she cannot ignore the excitement that she constantly attracts off it. And despite being only 21 years old, the youngster has handled the pressure of an entire nation extremely well.
Sharing further comment on the Filipina ace, Osman noted: “The Eala story is not only unique to the Philippines, but also with the tennis fraternity globally. She played her first few games here in the WTA during the WTA Finals. We have the Future Stars program, and she won that tournament when she was 12 years old. And the family shared that they remembered the OCBC Arena, and the courts where she stayed and so on.
“And then last year she also featured in the Singapore Tennis Open 250, and now this 500. So her journey itself has been an inspiration to the tennis community, and I think the region is actually coming here and feeling very excited to see her perform at the highest level.”
His co-director Laura Ceccarelli added: “And you know, she’s so proud to represent the Philippines around the world, to make her people happy, to see her, to be involved with her. She has been such an amazing ambassador for your country. And that’s what she keeps repeating, that she represents all Southeast Asia. She feels home here.
“Of course when she will be in the Philippines playing, it will be even… I cannot even imagine for your future events. But she has been a grateful addition. Such a lovely girl that really everyone loves. Even her attitude, even her way to approach people, it’s an example to everyone.”
It’s a real full-circle moment already for Eala, who is the third seed this year compared to suffering a qualifying exit at the event in 2025. And her fans have every right to be excited about what the future holds, but perhaps more importantly what she can achieve in the here and now.
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