The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) have expressed full support for tennis star Alex Eala as she chooses to represent the Philippines at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya despite the possibility of sanctions from the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).
PSC Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio said the commission is working with POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) secretary general John Rey Tiangco while awaiting the WTA’s decision on Philta’s request for an exemption for Eala.
“Rest assured of the PSC’s all-out support. We will continue to assist Alex, PHILTA, and the POC in every way we can,” Gregorio said.
Gregorio also commended Eala for placing her national team commitment ahead of the potential consequences of missing a WTA mandatory tournament.
“Para sa bayan ito. Malinaw ito sa isip at puso ni Alex. That is why we admire and support her 100 percent. Alex is the epitome of a world-class Filipino athlete — atin po itong tularan. Para sa bayan, laging lalaban,” he added.
Tolentino also backed Eala’s decision, noting the strong support the Filipina tennis player has gained from fans in the Philippines and around the world.
“We can always say that Alex Eala is giving back to her country, to the support of Filipinos in the country and wherever she competes, they have amazingly established that global ‘Eala Mania,’” Tolentino said.
He acknowledged that the WTA has rules governing mandatory events but emphasized Eala’s decision to prioritize her national duties.
“The WTA has its rules and breaking the rules has penalties. But Alex will be in Nagoya, for the flag and country,” he added.
The Asian Games tennis tournament is set to start on September 27 at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Japan. The competition will overlap with the China Open, a WTA event scheduled from September 30 to October 11.
The China Open is classified as one of the WTA 1000 mandatory tournaments, where players who qualify directly based on their rankings are generally expected to compete. Eala currently holds the No. 18 position in the world rankings.
Players who miss mandatory WTA events without an approved exemption can face disciplinary measures, which may include fines and consequences involving ranking points.
Eala is among several high-profile players dealing with scheduling conflicts involving the Asian Games.
Reigning Olympic and Asian Games champion Zheng Qinwen has decided not to compete, while Paris Olympics mixed doubles silver medalist Wang Xinyu and Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka are also skipping the event.
Indonesia’s Janice Tjen likewise requested an exemption from the WTA to participate in the Asian Games, but her appeal was rejected, leading to her withdrawal from the competition.