Alex Eala’s confirmed draw for the Asian Games and who she will have to beat to win gold

Alex Eala's next tournament will be the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The Filipina, who won bronze at the 2022 Asian Games, returns in 2026 as the gold medal favourite. She is the top seed and the only top-50 player competing in singles.

Advertisement

However, she won't arrive in Japan in red-hot form. Eala lost her only match in Singapore to world number 180 Tatiana Prozorova before departing for the Asian Games.

Still, she should fancy her chances of winning gold. The question is, who will Eala have to beat to take the Asian Games title this year?

Alex Eala's toughest opponent in the Asian Games draw is world number 55 Zhang Shuai

As one of the top two seeds, Eala has received a bye into the second round. There, she will play either Patcharin Cheapchandej of Thailand or Mahin Qureshi of Pakistan. Eala will be a heavy favourite against both players and should expect to win without losing more than a few games.

Advertisement

Top eight seeds at the 2026 Asian Games

1. Alex Eala (Philippines) – WTA #18

2. Zhang Shuai (China) – WTA #55

3. Yulia Putintseva (Kazakhstan) – WTA #79

4. Xiyu Wang (China) – WTA #83

5. Mananchaya Sawangkaew (Thailand) – WTA #89

6. Moyuka Uchijima (Japan) – WTA #105

7. H. Sakatsume (Japan) – WTA #119

8. Joanna Garland (Taiwan) – WTA #168

However, her second-round match might not be quite so easy. Eala could play Taiwan's Joanna Garland, who won three matches in Singapore this week.

She could then play several top Chinese stars on her way to the gold medal. Her most likely route would consist of Xiyu Wang in the semis and Zhang Shuai in the final. However, she could also play Yulia Putintseva or Mananchaya Sawangkaew.

Eala and Sawangkaew have a history together. They met in last year's Southeast Asian Games women's singles final, a match the Filipina won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. Only time will tell if they will meet again on the bigger stage, that is, the Asian Games…

Advertisement

Alex Eala's Asian Games draw

Alex Eala's Asian Games draw

How did Alex Eala win a bronze medal at the last Asian Games?

Four years ago, Eala, the fourth seed, won a bronze medal at her first Asian Games. She reached the semi-finals, where she lost to the eventual champion and future Olympic gold medalist, Qinwen Zheng.

Alex Eala at the 2022 Asian Games

1R – Bye

2R [WIN] vs Sarah Mahboob Khan (Pakistan), 6-0, 6-0

3R [WIN] vs Rutuja Bhosale (India), 7-6, 6-2

QF [WIN] vs Kyoka Okamura (Japan), 0-6, 7-5, 6-0

SF [LOSS] vs Qinwen Zheng (China), 1-6, 7-6, 3-6

She'll be determined to go all the way this year, and Eala will certainly have the fans behind her. The 21-year-old is already one of the most popular players in women's tennis and by far the biggest attraction in Asia.

Whether the fans can guide her to glory in Japan remains to be seen. The 2026 Asian Games women's singles tennis event begins on Sunday, September 27.

Click here to read article