Alex Eala risked being fined $10,000 for skipping the mandatory China Open to represent her country at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Suiting up for the Philippines, Eala won a bronze medal in singles, losing to the eventual champion, Wang Xiyu, in the semis. She also lost in the second round of the doubles event alongside Shaira Rivera.
Many argued that Eala shouldn’t be fined for playing in the Asian Games instead of Beijing, but it was unclear whether the WTA Tour would listen to those calls. However, Philippine Tennis Association Executive Tonette Mendoza has now released a statement implying Eala will avoid a fine, as reported by ‘Spin.ph‘.
Alex Eala expected to avoid WTA fine as she wasn’t under pressure from her country to skip the China Open
“I think the government pressured everybody so that they cannot now impose a fine on a person who wants to represent the country. Late last week also, the WTA just passed new rules for the following year, which I think will help all the players wanting to represent their country,” said Mendoza.
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“From the beginning, first we asked Alex [Eala] if she was willing to join. She made a decision on her own that she wanted to represent the country. So we asked the WTA if they could waive any penalties that they may impose on her.
“So the WTA just asked us a few questions if she made the decision on her own, meaning it was not under pressure from anybody in the government or national federation, if it is an Olympic qualifier for our country, to which we said yes. She made a decision on her own, and it’s an Olympic qualifier. Then they just never got back to us.”
Eala failed to qualify for the Olympic Games, missing out on the Asian Games gold medal (she could still qualify at a later date), but still did herself and her country proud. She may also have avoided a fine, if Mendoza is to be believed.
Alex Eala at the 2026 Asian Games (singles)
- 2R [WIN] vs Patcharin Cheapchandej (THA), 6-1, 6-0
- QF [WIN] vs Joanna Garland (TPE), 7-5, 6-0
- SF [LOSS] vs Wang Xiyu (CHN), 6-3, 3-6, 2-6
Alex Eala at the 2026 Asian Games (doubles)
- 1R [WIN] vs Lai Ching Laam/Kallista Liui (HKG), 6-1, 6-3
- 2R [LOSS] vs Jiang Xinyu/Yang Zhaoxuan (CHN), 5-7, 2-6
With the Asian Games controversy put to bed, Eala can now fully focus on the WTA Tour and her final few tournaments of the 2026 season. Next up is a trip to China for the Wuhan Open.
Alex Eala has real chance to win her first WTA 1000 title in Wuhan
Eala won her first WTA title earlier this year, at the Washington Open, but has yet to win a title above the WTA 500 level. She could, however, change that in Wuhan.
Alex Eala’s career titles
- Grand Slams – 0
- WTA 1000s – 0
- WTA 500s – 1
- WTA 250s – 0
- WTA 125s – 2
Several top players, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, and Amanda Anisimova, won’t play the Wuhan Open due to injury or fatigue. With so many big names missing, fewer obstacles stand between Eala and the title.
The 22-year-old has impressed at several WTA 1000 events this year, and in a weaker field, perhaps this is her moment to shine and lift the trophy. Only time will tell…
Alex Eala’s WTA 1000 record
| Tournament | Best performance | Win/Loss record |
| Qatar Open | First round – 2026 | 0-1 (0%) |
| Dubai Tennis Championships | Quarter-final – 2026 | 3-1 (75%) |
| Indian Wells | Fourth round – 2026 | 2-1 (67%) |
| Miami Open | Fourth round – 2026 | 6-4 (60%) |
| Madrid Open | Second round – 2024, 2025, 2026 | 3-4 (43%) |
| Italian Open | Third round – 2026 | 2-2 (50%) |
| Canadian Open | Fourth round – 2026 | 2-2 (50%) |
| Cincinnati Open | Third round – 2026 | 1-1 (50%) |
| China Open | – | – |
| Wuhan Open | First round – 2024 | 0-1 (0%) |
This year’s Wuhan Open begins on October 12 at the Optics Valley International Tennis Centre. Eala will be seeded 13th for the event, but won’t receive a bye into the second round, as the draw is smaller than other WTA 1000 tournaments and only the top eight seeds skip the first round.
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