Filipina tennis star Alex Eala is featured in promotional materials for the 2026 Singapore Tennis Open. Contributed photo
SINGAPORE — Filipina tennis star Alex Eala is in great spirits ahead of the 2026 Singapore Tennis Open, where she enters as the third seed and a clear crowd favorite.
"I am great. I feel I'm good, I'm healthy, which I am so grateful for. I have an amazing team who helps me take care of my body, who helps me plan accordingly, and we're very experienced," Eala said during the Welcome Party for the players.
"The tour is very long. It's the calendar year, or the season is quite long. But, you know, I feel ready, I feel excited. I'm here, I'm closer to home, so very happy, yes," she added.
READ: Alex Eala receives bye to round-of-16 in Singapore Tennis Open
The Singapore Tennis Open marks Eala's return to action since her third round exit in the US Open.
Her recent string of good results — including a breakthrough title in Washington — has not added to the pressure that the 21-year-old feels.
"I think there is a will for me to win. There's definitely that personal will for me to kind of... Of course, I'm a competitive athlete, so we want to win, right? So I think that's at the forefront of everything," she said.
Outside of the court, Eala remains a massive draw, with her sampaguita-inspired merch proving to be a hot commodity at a sports apparel store in Singapore's Orchard Drive.
"Wow is how I feel. I guess it's just so surreal to see the support and to see how, you know, how the power of representation and I think how much people align with my journey and I guess the whole story behind the Sampaguita line," said Eala.
"And it fills me with joy to know that, you know, people can relate to this and they connect with it," she added.
Eala, as the third seed in Singapore, received a bye in the first round and is awaiting the winner of the match between Sofia Costoulas and Tatiana Prozorova.