First announced on December 12, Alex Eala from the Philippines will get a “first round bye” in the women’s singles tournament of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Nonthaburi, Thailand, and will now wait for her quarterfinals opponent.
All Because of the World Ranked No. 52
The 20-year-old Filipina, currently world No. 52, is the tournament’s top seed and has been granted a first-round bye, instantly placing her into the second round/round of 16 and positioning her as a prime contender for a podium finish.
With this, the favorable draw allows Eala to conserve energy in the early stages, an advantage that could prove critical as the competition intensifies deeper into the bracket.
One victory is enough to secure at least a bronze medal, an opportunity she is eager to capitalize on after settling for third-place finishes in previous editions.
Awaiting Her Singles Match Opponent
Eala’s opening match in women’s singles will come against the winner of Malaysia’s Shihomi Leong and Laos’ Aliya Vongdala.
With limited entries in the draw, several top players also advanced automatically, including Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, the world No. 53, who also received a first-round bye on the opposite side of the bracket.
If the seeds hold, Eala’s path could lead to a semifinal showdown with Indonesia’s Priska Nugroho, the tournament’s fourth seed.
The potential meeting carries added intrigue, as Eala and Nugroho previously teamed up to win the girls’ doubles title at the 2020 Australian Open.
Meanwhile, Tjen is projected to face third seed Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand in the semifinals, with host nation Thailand notably opting not to enter their top singles player, Lanlana Tararudee, in the event.
Bound to get more than Bronze Medals?
Eala arrives at the SEA Games fresh from the most productive stretch of her professional career.
A standout run at the 2025 Miami Open earlier this year propelled her into the spotlight, earning her direct entries into the Grand Slam main draws, which are the Roland Garros in France and the US Open, allowing her to lift her to a career-best ranking inside the world’s top 50.
She also won her very first WTA Professional title in the Guadalajara Open in Mexico this year.
An alumnus from the Rafa Nadal Academy, she begins on a whole new challenge as she now competes in the SEA Games for only the second time, but with far greater experience and expectations than during her debut.
At the 2021 Vietnam Games, Eala collected three bronze medals, all of which came in the women’s singles, mixed doubles, and the women’s team event.
This time around, she is aiming to turn those podium finishes into higher-colored medals.
Heavy Schedule Across Multiple Events
Beyond her singles campaign, Eala is set for a demanding schedule as she represents the Philippines in several categories.
She is entered in mixed doubles alongside veteran campaigner Nino Alcantara, with the pairing also benefiting from a first-round bye.
Their combination of youth and experience gives the Philippines a strong presence against the region’s established pairs.
Eala is likewise part of the women’s team lineup, where the Filipinas have already secured a bronze medal.
In women’s doubles, the country is represented by the tandems of Tennielle Madis and Stefi Aludo, as well as Shaira Rivera and Alexa Milliam, adding depth to the Philippine challenge across the tournament.
More Filipino Tennis Players Across the Tournament
The Philippine tennis delegation features multiple entries beyond Eala, underscoring a broad push across events at the SEA Games.
On the men’s side, Ruben Gonzales, Eric Olivarez, and Alberto Lim are competing in singles action, while Alcantara and Gonzales are back to defend their men’s doubles crown.
The reigning champions opened their title defense against Singapore’s Michael Jimenez and Jerally Yasin.
