Team Philippines ready to unleash Eala

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala is now in Japan, ready for the noblest mission of her blooming career.

“Proud and excited,” was how the tennis darling described her mindset in representing the Philippines in the 20th Asian Games.

Eala landed in Nagoya last night after a couple of flight delays and was warmly greeted by members of the Filipino delegation led by Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino.

In Aichi-Nagoya, the world No. 18 Pinay will be fighting for something bigger than herself, carrying the hope of the nation as she competes as the top seed – and sentimental favorite – in women’s singles.

Eala takes a bye in the opening round that’s firing off today and launches her gold-medal drive Monday in Round 2 against either Patcharin Cheapchandej of Thailand or Mahin Aftab Qureshi of Pakistan, with a quarterfinals seat on the line.

Based on the draw, the lefty ace needs four victories to crown herself queen of Asia and as sweetener, grab a corresponding ticket to the LA Olympics – another feather to her cap.

The 21-year-old star anchors the top half of the field alongside other seeded players Xiyu Wang of China (No. 4), Moyuka Uchijima of Japan (No. 6) and Joanna Garland of Chinese Taipei (No. 8).

Only the top two seeds get a first-round bye with Chinese Shuai Zhang (WTA singles No. 55, doubles No. 7) notching the other one at the bottom half of the bracket as the second seed.

Filipina Tenny Madis is at the bottom half and plays No. 7 seed Himeno Sakatsume of Japan in today’s Round 1.

Other seeded players are Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan (No. 3) and Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand (No. 5), whom Eala beat for the Southeast Asian Games tiara last year.

Barring any major upsets, these big guns are expected to be the biggest roadblocks to Eala’s quest.

Out of the picture are reigning champion Zheng Qinwen of China (WTA No. 52), world No. 1 and newly-minted US Open champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, No. 17 and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka of Japan as well as Indonesia’s Janice Tjen (No. 46).

Qinwen ruled the 2022 Asiad at home in Hangzhou with compatriot Zhu Lin winning the silver. Eala and Haruka Kaji of Japan took the bronze, making the Filipina the only remaining medalist this edition – and definitely the favored one.

Eala is also seeing action in women’s doubles with Shaira Hope Rivera. They face Hong Kong’s Lai Ching Laam and Kallista Liu in the opener.