Alex Eala’s US Open run may have ended in heartbreak, but Filipino tennis fans won’t have to wait too long to see her back on court.
The 21-year-old Filipina is heading back to Asia for the 2026 Singapore Tennis Open, where she will compete against another strong WTA field from September 21 to 27.
And there’s a lot to like about this next stop.
Singapore is much closer to home. There is a huge Filipino community there. There’s no annoying time-zone conversion for viewers in the Philippines. And perhaps most importantly, Eala enters the tournament as an established Top 20 player rather than the underdog we were accustomed to watching just a year or two ago.
The Singapore Tennis Open has also received a major upgrade for 2026. What was a WTA 250 tournament last year is now a WTA 500 event, meaning more ranking points, more prize money and a significantly stronger field.
So when does Alex Eala play? Who could she face? Has the draw been released? And what time will her matches be in the Philippines?
Here’s everything we know so far.
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Alex Eala Singapore Tennis Open 2026: Quick Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Singapore Tennis Open presented by BNP Paribas |
| Dates | September 21–27, 2026 |
| Category | WTA 500 |
| Location | Singapore |
| Venue | OCBC Arena |
| Surface | Indoor hard court |
| Singles draw | 28 players |
| Doubles draw | 16 teams |
| Alex Eala status | Confirmed entry |
| Current Eala ranking | World No. 18 |
| First opponent | To be announced |
| Exact match time | To be announced |
| Philippine time | Same as Singapore time |
| Results | Tournament has not started |
The WTA currently lists the tournament as beginning September 21 and confirms Eala among the players entered. The event carries a total financial commitment of $1,206,446.
Is Alex Eala Playing in the Singapore Tennis Open?
Yes.
As of September 7, Alex Eala remains on the official WTA player list for Singapore.
This is important because tournament entry lists can change because of injuries, withdrawals and scheduling decisions. The WTA itself notes that the player list remains subject to change until the tournament draw is published.
For now, however, Eala is officially part of the field and Singapore is expected to be her first tournament since the US Open.
That gives her roughly two weeks to recover after her exhausting run in New York.
When Is the Singapore Tennis Open 2026?
Main-draw competition is scheduled for:
September 21 to September 27, 2026
The event takes place at the OCBC Arena in Singapore and will be played on indoor hard courts.
The tournament returned to the WTA calendar in 2025 as a WTA 250 event. After its successful comeback, it was upgraded to WTA 500 status for 2026 and beyond.
That upgrade matters.
WTA 500 tournaments attract stronger fields and offer considerably more ranking points than WTA 250 events.
And looking at the Singapore entry list, the stronger field is already obvious.
Has the Singapore Tennis Open Draw Been Released?
Not yet.
As of September 7, 2026, the official WTA tournament page does not have a main draw available, and the order of play has not been published either.
That means we do not yet know Alex Eala’s first-round opponent.
We also don’t have her exact match date or starting time.
This is worth emphasizing because early schedules and supposed first-round matchups can sometimes circulate on social media before a draw is official.
For now:
Alex Eala first-round opponent: TBA
Alex Eala first match date: TBA
Alex Eala match time: TBA
Once the official draw is released, we’ll finally see Eala’s potential route through the tournament.
Who Is Playing at the Singapore Tennis Open?
This is where things get interesting.
Singapore has attracted an excellent field.
The initial direct-entry list includes:
- Jessica Pegula
- Mirra Andreeva
- Amanda Anisimova
- Diana Shnaider
- Sorana Cirstea
- Alex Eala
- Ekaterina Alexandrova
- Maja Chwalinska
- Elise Mertens
- Anastasia Potapova
- Barbora Krejcikova
- Sara Bejlek
- Ann Li
- Maria Sakkari
- Janice Tjen
- Donna Vekic
- Wang Xinyu
- Clara Tauson
- Oleksandra Oliynykova
The WTA said the initial entry list contained seven Top 20 players, with Eala and Indonesia’s Janice Tjen serving as the two Southeast Asian direct entrants.
That is a seriously competitive tournament.
Jessica Pegula Could Be One of the Biggest Names in Eala’s Path
One name Filipino fans will immediately notice is Jessica Pegula.
There is plenty of history there.
Eala defeated Pegula earlier this season to win the Washington WTA 500 championship, coming from a set down to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.
That was Eala’s first WTA Tour singles title and one of the biggest victories of her career.
Could we get another Eala-Pegula match in Singapore?
Possibly.
But until the draw is released, there is no way to know whether they will even be placed in the same section.
Still, given what happened in Washington, it would immediately become one of the tournament’s biggest matches if the two meet again.
Amanda Anisimova Is Also in the Field
Another familiar opponent is Amanda Anisimova.
Eala faced the American in Cincinnati shortly before the US Open.
Eala took the opening set but eventually lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Anisimova is currently ranked inside the world’s Top 10 and is one of the highest-ranked players expected in Singapore.
Again, there is no guarantee Eala will face her.
But this entry list is full of players Eala has either faced before or could realistically meet during a deep run.
Oleksandra Oliynykova Could Produce Another Rematch
One particularly interesting name on the player list is Oleksandra Oliynykova.
Eala and Oliynykova have already produced an entertaining rivalry this year.
Oliynykova defeated Eala in Strasbourg.
Then Eala got her revenge at the US Open, dominating their second-round meeting 6-1, 6-4.
Now both women are scheduled to compete in Singapore.
A third meeting isn’t guaranteed, but it would certainly carry an interesting storyline.
Janice Tjen Gives Singapore a Southeast Asian Storyline
There is also Indonesia’s Janice Tjen.
The WTA specifically highlighted Eala and Tjen as the two Southeast Asian direct entrants in the tournament.
That could be valuable for the event.
Eala has already become a major sports figure in the Philippines, while Tjen has helped generate more interest in professional tennis in Indonesia.
If they somehow meet, the match could attract considerable attention across Southeast Asia.
But again, we need to wait for the draw before getting ahead of ourselves.
What Seed Will Alex Eala Be?
The official tournament seedings have not yet been announced.
Eala is currently World No. 18, putting her among the highest-ranked players on the entry list.
The WTA player information currently has her at No. 18 after what has been a breakthrough season. She has already won a WTA 500 title and reached deep into both Wimbledon and the US Open this year.
It is therefore possible she could be seeded in Singapore if the field remains similar to the current entry list.
But the official seeds are determined closer to the tournament and can change based on rankings and withdrawals.
So it would be premature to assign Eala a seed now.
What Time Will Alex Eala Play in the Philippines?
Here’s the good news for Filipino fans:
Singapore and the Philippines are in the same time zone.
Both use UTC+8.
That means there is no time conversion required.
If Eala plays at:
1:00 p.m. in Singapore → 1:00 p.m. Philippine time
4:00 p.m. in Singapore → 4:00 p.m. Philippine time
7:00 p.m. in Singapore → 7:00 p.m. Philippine time
This will be much easier than following the US Open, where Filipino fans regularly had to wake up in the middle of the night or early morning.
If Eala gets an evening session in Singapore, fans in the Philippines could potentially watch her at a very comfortable prime-time hour.
However, the official order of play has not yet been released, so there is no confirmed time for Eala’s first match.
Alex Eala Singapore Tennis Open 2026 Results
As of September 7, the tournament has not started.
The WTA scores page currently states that scores will become available once play begins.
So Eala’s Singapore results currently stand at:
First round: TBA
Second round: TBA
Quarterfinal: TBA
Semifinal: TBA
Final: TBA
Her actual path will depend on the draw.
Eala Enters Singapore After Her Best US Open Run
Singapore will be Eala’s first chance to respond after one of the most painful losses of her season.
At the US Open, she reached the third round for the first time.
She defeated Mary Stoiana 6-1, 6-2, then beat Oliynykova 6-1, 6-4.
That set up a third-round showdown with good friend Iva Jovic at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Eala pushed Jovic for more than three hours before losing 7-5, 3-6, 7-5.
What made it particularly painful was the fact that Eala led 4-2 in the deciding set.
Still, Eala said afterward that she saw plenty of positives in the match and believed she had improved since her previous meetings with Jovic.
Her US Open run earned her 130 ranking points and $290,000 in prize money.
Now the challenge is to reset.
Singapore Could Be an Important Tournament for Eala’s Ranking
Eala is already inside the world’s Top 20.
But staying there — and eventually moving higher — requires consistently producing results.
That’s why WTA 500 tournaments such as Singapore matter.
There are valuable points available, and a deep run could help strengthen Eala’s position heading toward the latter part of the season.
It also matters for future seedings.
The higher Eala climbs, the greater the possibility of receiving favorable seeded positions at major tournaments.
We already saw how valuable that became at the US Open.
Instead of entering as an unseeded player who could draw a Top 10 opponent immediately, Eala entered New York as the No. 17 seed and was able to build momentum through the first two rounds.
Singapore Could Feel Almost Like a Home Tournament
Another thing I’ll be watching is the crowd.
Eala has attracted remarkable support from Filipino communities during tournaments around the world.
At the US Open, Filipino fans packed Louis Armstrong Stadium.
They waved Philippine flags.
They cheered loudly enough that Eala sometimes sounded like the home player despite playing in New York.
Singapore could take that to another level.
The country is only a short flight from the Philippines and has a large Filipino community.
That makes the Singapore Tennis Open perhaps one of the easiest major WTA tournaments for Filipino fans to attend.
Don’t be surprised if the OCBC Arena turns into another sea of Philippine flags when Eala plays.
The Tournament Is Also Perfect Preparation for the Asian Games
Singapore won’t be Eala’s final destination in Asia.
Immediately afterward, she is expected to travel to Japan for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
PHILTA has confirmed that Eala plans to represent the Philippines, although the federation has also been communicating with the WTA regarding her decision to skip the overlapping China Open.
The schedule is extremely tight.
The Singapore Tennis Open ends September 27.
Eala is then expected to head straight to Nagoya for the Asian Games tennis competition.
That means Singapore is not just another WTA tournament.
It’s also Eala’s final major preparation before she puts on the Philippine colors again.
Why the Asian Games Could Affect Her Singapore Run
There’s an interesting balancing act here.
Obviously, Eala will want to go as deep as possible in Singapore.
It’s a WTA 500 event.
There are ranking points and significant prize money at stake.
But if she reaches the final on September 27, she could have almost no turnaround before traveling to Japan.
That’s the kind of scheduling problem every player would love to have — because it means you’re winning — but it would still test Eala physically.
Her team will have to carefully manage recovery.
Eala Is Choosing the Asian Games Over Beijing
Another fascinating storyline is that Eala is expected to miss the WTA 1000 China Open because of her commitment to the Philippine team.
PHILTA said it has been communicating with the WTA regarding the situation and was waiting for clarity on whether any penalty might apply.
Eala herself has made clear why the Asian Games appeal to her.
She enjoys representing the Philippines, and the continental event happens only once every four years.
She previously won bronze medals in women’s singles and mixed doubles at the Asian Games.
This time, she arrives as World No. 18 and a WTA champion.
Naturally, expectations will be higher.
Can Alex Eala Win the Singapore Tennis Open?
Absolutely — but this field is tough.
We already know Eala can win a WTA 500 tournament.
She proved that in Washington.
During that run, she defeated Zheng Qinwen, Leylah Fernandez, Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula to capture the championship.
That’s not a fluke run against a weak field.
Those are major names.
So there’s no reason to think Eala can’t contend in Singapore.
At the same time, look at the players entered:
Pegula.
Andreeva.
Anisimova.
Shnaider.
Cirstea.
Alexandrova.
Mertens.
Krejcikova.
Sakkari.
Tauson.
There are very few comfortable matches in a field like that.
The draw will be enormously important.
What Should Filipino Fans Watch for Next?
Three updates matter most before Eala takes the court.
First is the official Singapore Tennis Open draw.
That tells us her first opponent and potential route through the tournament.
Second is the seedings.
With Eala currently ranked No. 18, her position in the draw could be important.
Third is the order of play.
That gives us the exact match date, court and starting time.
And because Singapore uses the same time as the Philippines, whatever time appears on the Singapore schedule is also the time Filipino viewers should follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Alex Eala playing at the Singapore Tennis Open 2026?
The tournament runs from September 21 to 27, but Eala’s exact first-match date has not yet been announced.
Who is Alex Eala’s first opponent?
As of September 7, the main draw has not been released, so her first-round opponent remains TBA.
What time is Alex Eala’s match in the Philippines?
The exact starting time remains TBA. Singapore and the Philippines share the same time zone, so no conversion will be required once her schedule is announced.
Is Alex Eala confirmed for Singapore?
Yes. She is currently listed by the WTA among the tournament entrants.
What is Alex Eala’s current ranking?
Eala is currently World No. 18.
Is the Singapore Tennis Open a WTA 500?
Yes. The tournament was upgraded from WTA 250 to WTA 500 status for 2026.
Where is the Singapore Tennis Open played?
The tournament will be held on indoor hard courts at the OCBC Arena in Singapore.
Who are the biggest players entered?
The initial field includes Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva, Amanda Anisimova, Diana Shnaider, Sorana Cirstea, Alex Eala, Ekaterina Alexandrova and several other established WTA players.
What comes after Singapore for Alex Eala?
Eala is expected to travel to Japan to represent the Philippines at the 2026 Asian Games.
Final Thoughts
The US Open chapter is closed.
Singapore is next.
And this feels like a particularly interesting tournament for Alex Eala.
She arrives as World No. 18, a WTA 500 champion and a player who has already shown this season that she can beat some of the biggest names in women’s tennis.
She will also be returning to Southeast Asia, where the support could be enormous.
The field is strong enough that nothing will come easily.
But that’s also what makes Singapore exciting.
Jessica Pegula is there.
Mirra Andreeva is there.
Amanda Anisimova is there.
Diana Shnaider is there.
And Alex Eala is no longer simply another name trying to keep up with players at that level.
She belongs in that group now.
The biggest missing piece is the draw.
Once we know Eala’s first opponent and which section of the bracket she lands in, we’ll have a much clearer idea of how realistic another deep WTA 500 run might be.
Until then, Filipino fans can circle one week on the calendar:
September 21–27, 2026.
And the best part?
No midnight time-zone math this time.
When Alex Eala plays in Singapore, Filipino fans can follow along at exactly the same time.
