Winning on home soil: Alexandra Eala kicks off inaugural Philippines Open with comprehensive victory

Alexandra Eala's Australian Open was cut short after a hugely disappointing first round loss to Alycia Parks. After a very positive and upbeat reaction to the defeat, she has commenced the inaugural Philippines Open with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Alina Charaeva.

The event is very highly anticipated by many with tennis in the Philippines growing to new levels. Eala has been the main focus in this huge rise on popularity, with the trailblazer enjoying a breakout 2025 where she reached a WTA 1000 semi-final while also picking up her first senior title on tour. It was all capped off with her climbing into the top 50 in a historic achievement by the 20-year-old.

She now one of the favourites to grab another title, but this one would mean a lot to the young prodigy with her able to play in her home country surrounded by her own fans as Philippines hosts its first WTA event.

It was complete domination against the world number 163, in a first meeting since the pair took to the court in a W15 event back in 2020. Charaeva won the tie at the Melilla Open in a straight sets victory in Spain.

However, the tables have now fully turned in the favour of Eala, who had no problem in getting the better of her opponent. She started on the front foot, holding to love before Charaeva levelled. It would be all Eala for the rest of the set, dropping just four more points as she breezed to the first set. The Russian was only able to win one point on the Eala serve.

The second set saw the pattern be altered, with Charaeva this time getting her nose in front with a break. Eala responded brilliantly, instantly breaking back before levelling up at 2-2. In fact, from going 2-0 down she would not drop another game in a very commanding showing at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in the Philippines capital city Manila.

These were more drawn out games. There was almost a third consecutive break when Charaeva failed to take any of her three break points. Eala survived before taking a third break opportunity offered in the next game to go a break in front, right after she took a medical timeout due to some discomfort. She held with ease before Charaeva missed the chance to go within one game. Eala was more clinical in winning the game before serving it out with ease to seal a first WTA victory in her home country.

The stats painted a picture. 77% of first serve points were won compared to Charaeva's 50%, with her only winning 22% of second serve points, a very small amount. Eala converted 71% of her break points, a lot more higher conversion rate than the 23-year-old's 20%.

Eala's next opponent is guaranteed to be Japanese, but she will have to wait until tomorrow to find out whether it is Nao Hibino or Himeno Sakatsume to be her next challenger.