Alex Eala arrives in Japan ahead of Asian Games campaign - GMA Network

Alex Eala has arrived in Japan as she begins the final stretch of her preparations for the 2026 Asian Games, where the Filipina tennis star will lead the country’s medal hopes in the women’s singles event.

The 21-year-old ace landed in Nagoya on Saturday after two flight delays.

Eala was coming off a surprise early exit in the WTA 500 Singapore Open, where she absorbed a stunning 6-4, 5-7, 3-6 loss to unseeded Tatiana Prozorova in the Round of 16 Thursday night.

"Proud and excited," said Eala as he greeted members of the Philippine delegation at the airport.

The world No. 18 Eala is one of the favorites to win the gold medal in the women's singles event, earning a first-round bye after emerging as the top-seeded player in the field.

She is also expected to play in the women's doubles event with Shaira Hope Rivera.

Eala will face the winner between Thailand's Patcharin Cheapchandej and Pakistan's Mahin Aftab Qureshi, who will battle it out in the Round of 32 on Sunday.

Zheng Qinwen of China is the reigning gold medalist in the women's singles event but the Chinese star isn't seeing action in the quadrennial event while Eala's fellow Southeast Asian star Janice Tjen of Indonesia is also missing the tournament.