Eala shifts shifts focus on gold

MANILA, Philippines — It’s the end of the 2026 Grand Slam season for Alex Eala. But it could well be just the start of something bigger, grander for the young Filipina tennis ace.

She could be headed for a stronger 2027 WTA season after major breakthroughs this year.

Before that, she hunts for glory with the rest of Team Philippines in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Moments after her heartbreaking 5-7, 6-3, 5-7 Round-of-32 loss to best friend Iva Jovic at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Eala announced her Asiad return, out to improve on her double-bronze from Hangzhou 2023.

“I love playing and competing with the Philippine team. In the SEA Games, the Asian Games, I’ve also done that,” said Eala.

“I think it’s a really fun environment, and I love being with the team, especially this last SEA Games in December. I had such a great time. I think they’re really memories that stick with me. And the Asian Games happen once every four years. I just found myself drawn to competing in that, aside from other stuff.”

It’s a big sacrifice as Eala will have to skip the Beijing WTA 1000, a crucial event in her push inside the Top 15.

But it’s vintage Eala – the same kid who wore custom blue Nike for the flag at the US Open, who wept at the tunnel with two duffel bags on her shoulders after her biggest Arthur Ashe debut.

And it puts her 2026 in perspective.

This was the year she became a full-time Grand Slam player. Main-draw debut in Australia. First wins at Roland Garros and Wimbledon – with Round of 16 finish – and a Round of 32 in New York as the No. 17 seed, the highest ever for a Filipino, and World No. 18 overall.

It was her first season to play all four major main draws, following her breakthrough in Miami last year that catapulted her inside the Top 100 for direct qualification to all Slams and WTA 1000s.

And the sweet pots came with it – P6.3 million at Roland Garros, P6.7 million at the Australian Open, P25.4 million at Wimbledon – her biggest purse yet. By reaching the third round at Flushing Meadows, Eala – who had $1,682,305 in career earnings before the US Open – will take home $290,000 to push her total close to $2 million.

More than the money, she put a premium on impact: her first WTA Tour title in Washington, seven wins against Top 10 players this season alone (9-5 overall), and a priceless bond with Filipinos worldwide.

From this 2026 grand show, Eala could well go on a roll. And she isn’t waiting until January to chase the next big thing.

In Nagoya, she will be the top seed and the hunted, carrying the hopes of a 443-strong Team Philippines that also features Carlos Yulo and EJ Obiena in a bid to surpass the four-gold hauls of the Filipinos in 2018 in Jakarta and 2023 in Hangzhou.

The Grand Slam season is over. The gold chase begins.