Home ahoho ALEX EALA JUST RECEIVED A MAJOR SINGAPORE OPEN BOOST — THE NO. 3 SEED WON’T EVEN HAVE TO PLAY THE FIRST ROUND. The 21-year-old arrives in Singapore with momentum, but the draw has now handed her something even more valuable before she strikes a ball. Eala has climbed high enough in the seedings to move directly into the second round, giving her extra recovery time ahead of a demanding stretch in Asia. The WTA currently lists her as the tournament’s No. 3 seed behind Mirra Andreeva and Amanda Anisimova. But the way Eala ended up in that position — and the names that disappeared from the field ahead of her — makes the opportunity even more significant.

ALEX EALA JUST RECEIVED A MAJOR SINGAPORE OPEN BOOST — THE NO. 3 SEED WON’T EVEN HAVE TO PLAY THE FIRST ROUND. The 21-year-old arrives in Singapore with momentum, but the draw has now handed her something even more valuable before she strikes a ball. Eala has climbed high enough in the seedings to move directly into the second round, giving her extra recovery time ahead of a demanding stretch in Asia. The WTA currently lists her as the tournament’s No. 3 seed behind Mirra Andreeva and Amanda Anisimova. But the way Eala ended up in that position — and the names that disappeared from the field ahead of her — makes the opportunity even more significant.

ahoho · 19/09/2026 · comments off

Alex Eala gets first-round bye in Singapore Open as No. 3 seed

Alex Eala Alexandra Eala Singapore Tennis Open

FILE–Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines, tosses the ball to serve to Mary Stoiana, of the United States, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala earned a first-round bye at the Singapore Tennis Open.

The Filipino sensation is seeded third in the newly upgraded WTA 500 tournament. The top four seeds in the hard-court event drew byes.

Eala, the sport’s hottest draw, was initially projected to be the sixth seed in Singapore before fellow stars Jessica Pegula, Diana Shnaider and Sorana Cirstea pulled out.

Pegula, the World No. 3, was slated as the tournament top seed before withdrawing on Wednesday following a “long and physically demanding few weeks at the US Open.”

The 32-year-old American reached the semifinals at Flushing Meadows before losing to Aryna Sabalenka to cap off her grueling North American swing. Pegula also made the final in Washington, where she lost to Eala in three sets, and in the Cincinnati Open final, falling to Coco Gauff.

Singapore Tennis Open replaced Pegula with Russian World No. 5 Mirra Andreeva at No. 1.

American Amanda Anisimova, who beat Eala in the third round of the Cincinnati Open last month, climbed to No. 2, while defending champion Elise Mertens is at No. 4.

Polish Maja Chwalinska, who made history this season by becoming the first-ever qualifier to make the French Open final, rounded out the top five.

Leylah Fernandez, who represents Canada but has Filipino roots, is the sixth seed after receiving a wild card entry. Fernandez’s maternal grandmother is from Leyte, while her grandfather is from Ilocos Norte.

The 21-year-old Eala, who arrived in Singapore on Thursday after a brief return to the Philippines, hit the practice court at The Kallang on Friday.

She is expected to make her main draw debut in Singapore on Wednesday. Eala competed in the SG Open qualifying last year and was eliminated in straight sets by Switzerland’s Simona Waltert.

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