Alex Eala set to open 2026 campaign in Australia and New Zealand

Alexandra “Alex” Eala will begin her 2026 WTA season in the Australia–New Zealand swing, marking another chapter in her rise on the professional tour.

Currently ranked WTA No. 53, Eala is set to open her season on January 5 at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, a WTA 250 tournament.

Several familiar names appear on the ASB Classic entry list, including Varvara Gracheva of France, Lulu Sun of New Zealand, Janice Tjen of Indonesia, and Panna Udvardy of Hungary—players Eala has already faced in previous competitions.

Following her stint in Auckland, Eala will travel to Melbourne, Australia, to compete in the Kooyong Classic, an exhibition event held annually in the lead-up to the Australian Open.

Joining Eala in the women’s field are former world No. 5 Daniela Hantuchova, WTA No. 69 Donna Vekic, and world No. 98 Priscilla Hon.

Eala will then shift her focus to the season’s first Grand Slam, the 2026 Australian Open, which runs from January 18 to February 1. The tournament will serve as a major test for the young Filipina as she continues to build momentum from her historic WTA Tour last year.

Should Eala bow out early in Melbourne, she may opt to return home to compete in the Philippine Women’s Open, a WTA 125 event scheduled later in the month.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News