Philippines' Alexandra Eala reacts as she plays against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova during their women's singles first round tennis match on the second day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2025. Glyn Kirk, AFP/File
MANILA -- Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala, who continues to put the Philippines on the global sporting map, was one of the inspirations behind the country's hosting of a Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tournament.
Last August, Eala thanked the thousands of Filipinos who cheered for her when she won her historic Grand Slam main draw victory in the U.S. Open.
During her post-match interview, the 20-year-old Filipina said the community there made her feel like she's at home since there is no home tennis tournament.
Following this interview, the Philippine Lawn Tennis Association (PHILTA) knew it was time to change this and mount the country's first WTA 125 tournament.
"She's actually one of the inspirations for having this [tournament]. After that interview, I got a message from a WTA officer and he texted me. 'Did you see this interview of Alex? We had to work on this'," PHILTA Secretary General John Rey Tiangco said during the press conference on Friday in Pasay City.
Tiangco thanked Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio for quickly backing the initiative, which is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s thrust to boost sports tourism.
PHILTA said about 40 players have already signed up for the WTA 125 tournament from Canada, Mexico, Egypt, Belgium, China, Thailand, Serbia, Russia, Belarus, the US, Spain, Japan, Great Britain, Bulgaria, Italy, France and Indonesia.
READ: Manila to host first WTA tourney as Philippine Women's Open scheduled for January 2026
POSSIBLE WTA 250 TOURNEY?
Tiangco said they are hoping for a successful hosting of the WTA 125 tournament so they can apply to host higher level competitions.
"This WTA 125 is very important. If we don't post this now, then next year, if we post WTA 125, most likely there are more chances that Alex [Eala] wouldn't play. Because he'll be in a higher ranking," he explained.
"And for us to be able to host a higher WTA, we have to start from the bottom. So just like the junior tournaments, there's no shortcut. We can do WTA 250 right away or WTA 500. So we have to start here. And if we do well and they notice that we can host, then they give us an extension of the franchise and upgrade the franchise," Tiangco added.
For his part, Gregorio said it's about time the country banks on the rising popularity of tennis and host major international tournaments just like basketball, volleyball, surfing and most recently futsal.
"Yan ang tennis. Talagang sabik na sabik ang Pilipino at Pilipinas sa larong tennis. So huwag na natin pakawalan ito," he said.
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The PSC official said the WTA 125 tournament is just the beginning, seeking more hosting of higher level competitions.
"Simula lang ho ito ah. Kung nag-aambisyon rin lang tayo, might as well dream big. Kung nag-aambisyon lang tayo, we might as well think big in terms of hosting," Gregorio said.
The Philippine Women's Open is set for January 26 to 31, 2026.