NONTHABURI—Alexandra Eala is finally set to join Team Philippines’ campaign at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games as action for the Filipina tennis star begins on Monday, with the women’s singles quarterfinals at the Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi.
Eala, who was on the roster but sat out the team event, will be busy with two crucial quarterfinal matches — one in women’s singles and another in mixed doubles.
A victory in both would guarantee her at least a bronze medal in each event, significantly adding to the Philippines’ medal count.
All attention will be on her singles bid, as Eala—now vastly more experienced than during her 2022 debut—aims to capture her first SEA Games gold medal.
Her first challenge will be in the women’s singles quarterfinal against Malaysia’s Shihomi Leong. With her world-class experience, Eala, the highest-rated World Tennis Association player here at no. 52, is the team’s biggest hope for hardware in the individual events.
“She had a great training week this past week and the past few days and I think it’s going to be a competitive field with not only Janice [Tjen], but we can’t count out the two Thai players on the draw as well,” said women’s team head coach Denise Dy, who herself is a two-time SEA Games gold medalist.
“At the end of the day, it’s tennis and anything can happen but I think she’s hitting the ball very well and she’s definitely a lot rested in her Asian circuit series this past couple of weeks. I think she’s ready to go and she’s really, really excited and motivated to do well in the games.”
Meanwhile, she will partner up with Niño Alcantara in the mixed doubles, where they also had a bye in the Round of 16.
She and Alcantara will face off against the winner of the Round of 16 match between Indonesia’s Ignatius Susanto and Meydiana Reinnamah and Singapore’s Daniel Abadia and Wei Choo.
