Alex Eala faces a potential WTA penalty after choosing to represent the Philippines at the Asian Games over a mandatory tour event, tennis officials said Saturday.
The 20-year-old Filipina star is set to skip the China Open, a WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing, to compete in the tennis competition of the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Tennis365 reported.
The China Open is among the WTA’s mandatory events, and absences can result in sanctions including fines or “zero-point” penalties that could affect a player’s ranking.
However, Eala may receive an exemption given her absence is due to national-team commitments, according to the report.
The decision is particularly notable as Eala is scheduled to play the Singapore Open after the US Open before heading to Nagoya, underscoring her choice to prioritise flag over potential WTA consequences.
She has confirmed her participation for the Philippines at the Nagoya Games.
