Shifting focus to Asiad, top-seeded Eala gets first round bye

FILIPINA tennis star Alex Eala will begin her Asian Games campaign in the round of 16 after receiving a first round bye in the women’s singles draw.

World No. 18 Eala, the top seed in Nagoya, awaits the winner between Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej and Pakistan’s Mahin Aftab Qureshi for her opening match.

Apart from chasing the gold medal, winning the tournament also guarantees a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Eala is joined in her section of the draw by fourth seed Xinyu Wang of China, sixth seed Moyuka Uchijima of Japan, and eighth seed Joanna Garland of Chinese Taipei, who could potentially stand in her way in the early rounds.

China’s Zhang Shuai, ranked No. 55 in the world, is the second seed.

Several of the continent's top players, including No. 1 Elena Rybakina, Naomi Osaka, and Janice Tjen, are skipping the Asiad to play in the mandatory China Open.

Eala, meanwhile, opted to fly the flag for the Philippines despite incurring a fine and penalty from the WTA for playing in the quadrennial event.

Teammate Tennielle Madis will also open her campaign against Japan’s Himeno Sakatsume.

Shaira Rivera, another member of the Philippine team, will partner with Eala in the women’s doubles, where they face Hong Kong’s Lai Ching Laam and Kallista Liu in the opening round.

Eala heads straight to Japan after cutting her Singapore Open stint short following a loss to Tatiana Prozorova.

The Asian Games tennis tournament runs from September 27 to October 3, with the final schedule and order of play yet to be determined.

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