Alex Eala is set to compete in both the 2026 ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, and the Kooyong Classic in Kooyong, Australia as she prepares for a deep run in the upcoming Grand Slam of Australian Open, which begins on January 12, 2026.
First Test for 2026 is the WTA 250 ASB Classic
As the 20 year old tennis star from the Philippines is currently competing in the MGM Macau Tennis Master to end her 2025 tennis campaign, she will officially open her 2026 season at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, a WTA 250 tournament set to run from January 5 to 11 on outdoor hard courts.
Currently ranked world No. 52–53, Eala enters the field as the fourth seed which is a milestone that reflects how far she has climbed after finishing the 2024 season ranked 147th.
The Auckland tournament marks her debut appearance at the event and her first full season competing directly on the WTA Tour.
World No. 18 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine headlines the field as the top seed, with Emma Navarro and Iva Jovic also among the highest-ranked contenders.
Familiar rivals such as Janice Tjen of Indonesia, Panna Udvardy of Hungary, and Great Britain’s Katie Boulter, which would be competing via wildcard, are also expected to test Eala early in the season.
The tournament also features notable wildcards, including former champions Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens. Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, returns to competition following her comeback earlier this year and confirmed Auckland as her lone scheduled event for now.
“Well, for now, I can only confirm Auckland. We’ll see what happens after,” Williams said at the Charlotte Invitational on Dec. 4.
Final Tune-Up Before Melbourne is the Kooyong Classic
Immediately after Auckland, Eala will travel to Australia to compete in the Kooyong Classic from January 13 to 15.
The exhibition tournament, held annually at Kooyong Stadium in Melbourne, serves as one of the final tune-up events before the Australian Open.
The Kooyong Classic features eight invited players competing in a promotion-and-relegation singles format, with each participant playing three matches over four days. Additional exhibition matches are also staged during the event.
Eala joins a competitive field that includes Croatia’s Donna Vekic, Australia’s Priscilla Hon, and former seven-time WTA champion Daniela Hantuchova.
At world No. 53, Eala enters as the highest-ranked player in the women’s field.
On the men’s side, high-profile names such as Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Bublik, Frances Tiafoe, and Next Gen Finals champion Learner Tien are also set to participate.
Securing a Historic Australian Open Debut
Unlike last season, when she fell in the opening round of Australian Open qualifying, Eala heads into 2026 with a guaranteed place in the Melbourne main draw.
Her current ranking ensures direct entry which is a defining milestone in her career.
The Australian Open main draw begins on January 18 at Melbourne Park, and Eala will be hoping for a favorable draw in her Grand Slam debut. As an unseeded player, she could face anyone from a top-ranked contender like Aryna Sabalenka to a fellow qualifier.
Still, the Filipina enters the tournament with confidence, knowing that even a single win could significantly boost her ranking.
A second-round appearance alone would already surpass the points she needs to defend from early 2025.
Middle East Tour for Eala after Australia Open
Eala’s schedule does not end in Australia as she goes to the Middle East to compete in multiple WTA events.
She is also slated to compete in the WTA 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open from January 31 to February 7, part of the Middle East swing of the Hologic WTA Tour.
That stretch continues with two consecutive WTA 1000 events, the Qatar TotalEnergies Open in Doha starting February 9 and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships beginning February 16.
She is also expected to headline the Philippine Women’s Open Tennis Championships from January 26 to 30 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, though her participation will depend on how deep her Australian Open run extends.
Momentum, Maturity, and Expectation for 2026
From Miami’s hard courts to SEA Games glory, from breaking into the Top 50 to earning her first Grand Slam main-draw slot, Alex Eala enters 2026 not as a prospect, but as a proven competitor.
With Auckland and Kooyong serving as her final stepping stones, the Filipina star now carries both momentum and expectation, ready to test herself against the world’s best on tennis’ biggest stage and continue proving that her rise is only just beginning.
