Alex Eala landed in Nagoya on Saturday after two flight delays from Singapore, ready to lead the Philippines at the Asian Games.
"Proud and excited," Eala said in a short statement as she greeted members of the Philippine delegation at the airport, GMA News reports. Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino led the welcome, according to Spin.ph.
The 21-year-old world No. 18 is the top seed and the favorite in women's singles, with a first-round bye. She opens in the round of 16 against the winner of Thailand's Patcharin Cheapchandej and Pakistan's Mahin Aftab Qureshi, who play Sunday. Her half also includes No. 4 Wang Xiyu of China, No. 6 Moyuka Uchijima of Japan and No. 8 Joanna Garland of Chinese Taipei. In doubles, she teams up with Shaira Hope Rivera against Hong Kong's Lai Ching Laam and Kallista Liu.
The stakes are high. A singles gold also secures an LA28 Olympic spot. World No. 1 Elena Rybakina, Naomi Osaka and Janice Tjen are skipping the Games for the China Open, and reigning champion Zheng Qinwen is not playing. Eala chose the Asian Games over the WTA's mandatory China Open, a decision that risked sanctions from the tour.
She arrives after a 6-4, 5-7, 3-6 loss to unseeded Tatiana Prozorova in the Singapore round of 16 on Thursday night.
Follow Rally's Alex Eala hub for verified results and schedule updates.
