Eala landslide winner of 'Star of the Hard-Court Swing' poll
MANILA, Philippines -- Alex Eala has officially been named as the “Star of the Hard-Court Swing”, hoping for it to be a good stepping stone to her herculean golden bid in the Achi-Nagoya Asian Games this week for a seat in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 21-year-old Filipina pride won via landslide in the WTA poll, notching 78% of the total votes to be hailed as the brightest star for fans among the other leg winners in the just-concluded North American leg of the WTA Tour.
Newly crowned World No. 1 and US Open champion Elena Rybakina came in at distant second place with 16% as Canada Open and world No. 9 Iga Swiatek finished at third (3%).
It’s the second “Star” honor for Eala from the WTA after also a recognition for the grass-court season in Europe, thanks to a WTA125 title in Birmingham and a Round of 16-finish in Wimbledon with 89% of the total votes. She bested Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova (7%) and runner-up Karolina Muchova (3%), both from Czechia.
In North America, Eala hoisted her maiden WTA Tour title in the WTA500 Mubadala Citi D.C. Open in Washington last month with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 comeback victory over home bet Jessica Pegula.
It was one of the greatest WTA title runs this year as Eala took down Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen of China, reigning DC champion Leylah Fernandez of Canada, WTA Tour Finals champion Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka of Japan, and 11-time champion Pegula.
She also had her highest career seeding at No. 29 in the US Open, where she made it to the third round.
Other candidates for the said distinction were US Open runner-up Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus (No. 2), Cincinnati winner Coco Gauff of USA (No.4), Monterey winner Diane Parry of France (No. 30) and Guadalajara winner Iva Jovic of USA (No. 13).
Also in the fray was the World No. 1 pair of Katerina Siniakova of Czechia and Taylor Townsend of USA, who ruled the US Open to complete a career Grand Slam after previously winning the 2024 Wimbledon, 2025 Australian Open and 2026 French Open.
With a new stripe in her belt, Eala — on the heels of a 6-4, 5-7, 3-6 stunner defeat as the No. 3 seed to No. 180 Tatiana Prozorova of Russia in the Singapore Open to start the Asian Swing — is hoping to ride on the momentum in the Asiad as the No. 1 seed in the women’s singles, which already kickstarted Sunday.
Ranked No. 18 in the world, Eala has a first-round bye to face either Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej or Pakistan’s Mahin Aftab Qureshi in the Round of 16.
Another Filipina in Tenny Madis is also in the fray, clashing against No. 7 seed Himeno Sakatsume of Japan.
Eala netted two bronze medals in 2023 Hangzhou Asiad, looking to surpass both with also a stint in the women’s doubles with Shaira Hope Rivera against Lai Ching Laam and Kallista Liu of Hong Kong in the first round.Winner gets to face the No. 3 seed pair of Xinyu Jiang and Zhaoxuan Yang of China.
The Asiad serves as the second tilt in her Asian swing albeti not part of the tour, sacrificing the mandatory WTA1000 China Open, where most of her top Asian rivals opt to play at the same period for a possible $10,000 fine from the WTA.
She will plunge back to the WTA Tour in the Wuhan Open, which will run from October 12-18.
abtestabtest Eala starts Asian Games gold mission vs Thai By John Bryan Ulanday | 6 hours ago Alex Eala will begin her quest for gold against a familiar foe in Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej in Round 2 of the... Sports Eala tormentor out of Singapore Open after ball hit to the head By Ralph Edwin Villanueva | 1 day ago Alex Eala’s tormentor in the Singapore Open, Tatiana Prozorova, has been withdrawn from the WTA 500 tournament after... Sports Top-seeded Eala gets first-round bye in Asian Games By Ralph Edwin Villanueva | 1 day ago Alex Eala will have a first round bye in the Asian Games, as the tournament’s draw has been released. Sports Team Philippines ready to unleash Eala By John Bryan Ulanday | 1 day ago Alex Eala is now in Japan, ready for the noblest mission of her blooming career. Sports Latest More in Sports Chill can’t stop phl Macrohon narrowly misses podium finish Ubas enters long jump final Alas pays for shaky start; men’s beach volley booted out abtest Eala’s golden quest is on By John Bryan Ulanday | 10 minutes ago The road to Asian Games glory begins today for tennis star Alex Eala. Sports Frayna-led Philippine beats Costa Rica By Joey Villar | 10 minutes ago Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna made quick work of Woman International Master Maria Elena Rodriguez Arrieta in 28 moves... Sports Ubas enters long jump final 10 minutes ago It is his second straight Asian Games final and his third Asiad overall. After finishing seventh in Hangzhou in 2023 despite entering the final as the No. 3 qualifier, Ubas knows the window is closing. Sports Losing start for misfiring booters By Olmin Leyba | 10 minutes ago Failure to cash in on its scoring opportunities bit the Philippines in the end as it dropped a close 0-1 loss to Vietnam at the start of the inaugural FIFA Asean Cup Saturday in Indonesia. Sports Macrohon narrowly misses podium finish 10 minutes ago North Korea’s Song Kuk Hyang won gold with 273 kilograms, setting world, Asian and Asian Games records. Chen Wen-huei of Chinese Taipei took silver with 232 kilograms. Sports Recommended P2 bilyong sa mga maleta, idineliber kay VP Sara September 27, 2026 - 12:00am Masusing iniimbestigahan ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) ang ibinunyag ng isang dating pulis na nagsilbing security aide ni dating House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, na naghatid siya ng male-maletang pera...r SportsSARAVELASCO Sara-Robin tandem, ungos sa Leni-Bam sa 2028 - survey 2 days ago Nangunguna ang hypothetical tandem nina Vice President Sara Duterte at Senator Robin Padilla laban kina Naga City Mayor Leni... SportsROBIN PADILLA ‘Your honor’ September 26, 2026 - 12:00am SA mga nagdaang paglilitis ng Senate Impeachment Court laban kay VP Sara Duterte, laging pumapailanglang ang mga katagang, ‘‘Your honor,’’ kapag ang isang saksi ay tumutugon sa mga tanong...r SportsSARA DUTERTE Pinal na hatol ng Senate court, ‘di maiaapela sa SC 3 days ago Kung sakaling ma-convict o maabsuwelto si Vice President Sara Duterte ay hindi ito umano maaaring iapela sa Supreme Cour... SportsSARA DUTERTE 5-taong termino ng barangay, SK, pipirmahan ni Marcos 3 days ago Inihayag nitong Huwebes ni Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian na ipinadala na kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr.... SportsSHERWIN GATCHALIAN next Recommended P2 bilyong sa mga maleta, idineliber kay VP Sara Masusing iniimbestigahan ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) ang ibinunyag ng isang dating pulis na nagsilbing security aide ni dating House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, na naghatid siya ng male-maletang pera kina Vice President Sara Duterte, dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, at Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte. 1 day ago SARA VELASCO Sara-Robin tandem, ungos sa Leni-Bam sa 2028 - survey Nangunguna ang hypothetical tandem nina Vice President Sara Duterte at Senator Robin Padilla laban kina Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo at Senator Bam Aquino para sa 2028 Presidential at Vice Presidential elections. 2 days ago ROBIN PADILLA ‘Your honor’ SA mga nagdaang paglilitis ng Senate Impeachment Court laban kay VP Sara Duterte, laging pumapailanglang ang mga katagang, ‘‘Your honor,’’ kapag ang isang saksi ay tumutugon sa mga tanong o paglilinaw ng mga Senador na tumatayong mga judges sa impeachment trial, tulad ng itinatadhana ng Saligang-Batas ng Pilipinas. 2 days ago SARA DUTERTE Pinal na hatol ng Senate court, ‘di maiaapela sa SC Kung sakaling ma-convict o maabsuwelto si Vice President Sara Duterte ay hindi ito umano maaaring iapela sa Supreme Court. 3 days ago SARA DUTERTE 5-taong termino ng barangay, SK, pipirmahan ni Marcos Inihayag nitong Huwebes ni Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian na ipinadala na kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang panukalang batas na nagtatakda sa limang taon na termino ng mga opisyal ng barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan. 3 days ago SHERWIN GATCHALIAN OK Are you sure you want to log out? Yes No X Login Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!
