Alex Eala could face heavy WTA punishment after choosing Philippines at Asian Games over China Open

Alex Eala could face a fine and ranking consequences after choosing to represent the Philippines at the Asian Games instead of competing at the China Open, although her federation has formally asked the WTA to grant her an exemption.The decision comes after Eala's impressive run at the 2026 US Open, where she reached the third round before losing to American teenager Iva Jovic at Arthur Ashe Stadium. She has now confirmed that her next tournament will be the Singapore Tennis Open, before she heads to Japan to represent the Philippines at the Asian Games.Eala explained after her US Open defeat that the opportunity to compete for her country was too important to pass up.Eala chooses Asian Games over China OpenSpeaking to the media after her loss to Jovic, Eala confirmed that she expects to play in Singapore before joining the Philippine team at the Asian Games.“Yes, before (Asian Games) I believe, I will be in Singapore,” Eala said, via Tennis Head.“But yeah, I love playing and competing with the Philippines team and in the SEA, the Asian Games I've also done, I think it's a really fun environment, I love being with the team.”Eala added: “Especially this last SEA Games in December, I had such a great time and I think they're really memories that will stick with me.“You know, the Asian Games happens once every four years and yeah, I just found myself drawn to compete in that over other stuff.”That commitment means Eala will miss the 2026 China Open in Beijing, which is scheduled to take place later this month at around the same time as the Asian Games.According to the Daily Tribune, Eala is one of only two players inside the women's top 20 rankings who will miss the China Open, with world No.15 Victoria Mboko currently sidelined by injury.Eala's decision could therefore leave her facing potential punishment from the WTA.According to Tennis365, the China Open is a WTA 1000 event, making it one of the tournaments regarded as mandatory for players ranked high enough to qualify. The WTA's rules allow players to miss mandatory events in certain circumstances, including injury, other medical issues and personal reasons.Players who miss such an event without an applicable exemption can receive zero ranking points for the tournament. The effect on Eala's ranking, however, would depend partly on how other players perform at the US Open and Singapore Open.She could also face a $10,000 fine, according to the WTA's 2026 rulebook. That is the reported late-withdrawal fine for players ranked between 11th and 25th.Whether the Asian Games will qualify Eala for an exemption remains unclear.PHILTA asks WTA to protect Eala from punishmentThe Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA) has already formally approached the WTA over the matter, requesting that Eala be exempted from the penalties because she will be representing her country.PHILTA secretary-general John Tiangco, who is also the mayor of Navotas City, confirmed the request to GMA Network.“We have formally informed the WTA that Alex will be representing the Philippines at the Asian Games and have requested an exemption so she will not be penalized for missing a WTA 1000 event,” Tiangco said.“Alex herself has made it clear that representing the Philippines is an honor and that she is choosing to play for the flag,” he added.“We fully support that decision and are doing everything we can to ensure that choosing to represent her country does not come at the expense of her standing on the WTA Tour.”Eala has plenty of experience representing the Philippines on the international stage. She is a two-time Asian Games bronze medallist, having finished third in both the women's singles and mixed doubles, and she won gold in the women's singles at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.Her decision comes during the best period of her professional career so far.Eala won her first WTA singles title in Washington D.C. in August and has climbed to a career-high No.18 in the world rankings. Her run at the US Open was also her best finish at the tournament, with her campaign ending against Jovic in the third round.Her rapid rise has made Eala one of the biggest emerging names in women's tennis, with her US Open appearance even contributing to a significant surge in ticket prices as fans rushed to watch the Filipina compete on one of the sport's biggest stages.The China Open would have offered another major opportunity, with the WTA 1000 event carrying valuable ranking points and bringing together many of the world's leading players.Instead, Eala has chosen the Asian Games.The decision now rests with the WTA, which will determine whether her commitment to representing the Philippines provides sufficient grounds for an exemption from the penalties associated with missing the mandatory Beijing tournament.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.