Just as Alex Eala was finding her rhythm in the 2026 Philippine Women’s Open with back-to-back wins, her breakthrough run hit a roadblock on Thursday.
The 20-year-old sensation fell 4-6, 4-6 to Colombia’s Camila Osorio in the quarterfinals, ending her bid to become the first Filipina to hoist the inaugural trophy.
Though the loss stung, Eala, currently ranked No. 49 in the world, framed it as a learning opportunity. Battling a right hamstring injury throughout the tournament, she took solace in the support of the home crowd and the lessons she could carry forward.
“I think it was an overall good week. Of course, I’m disappointed about today. I think I had better days, but it is what it is. I just have to accept it, and there’s always next weekend,” Eala said after the match.
Playing in front of her home fans added both weight and comfort to the defeat.
“It’s nice to feel the support, especially during tough moments. It cushions the blow, but at the same time, it makes it a bit harder to accept because you want to do your best for them. I gave it my all today, and I have no regrets,” she added.
Despite her early exit, the tournament shone a spotlight on Filipino women’s tennis and showcased the country’s potential on the international stage. Eala, a 33rd Southeast Asian Games champion, hopes the WTA event will inspire a new era of support and development for women’s tennis in the Philippines.
“This tournament — even though it’s not yet finished — is already a great success. The turnout, the excitement, the feedback from players and WTA officials… It’s amazing. For a first edition, I’m just happy to be part of it and to see it unfold,” she said.
Eala pointed out the disparity in local opportunities for men and women tennis players.
“I heard that locally, there are only eight professional tournaments for men and just two for women,” she said.
“Having a WTA tournament here is a huge stepping stone and a wake-up call. Filipinos are hardworking and passionate, and if we start to invest in our tennis players, we can slowly build more champions.”
