Alexandra Eala of the Philippines returns a shot during day two of the Miami open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 19, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Carmen Mandato, Getty Images/AFP/file photo
MANILA — Alex Eala, the most anticipated athlete in the WTA 125 Philippine Women's Open, will face Alina Charaeva of Russia in the Round of 32.
The Ro32 main draw matches of the tourney was revealed on Saturday, as the qualifiers kicked off at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in the nation's capital.
Charaeva has a career high ranking of No. 142, set in September 2025, and made a Tour-level debut at WTA 500 Tokyo, also that year. She has six ITF titles and was a finalist in the WTA 125 Huzhou.
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The opponents of the three other Filipinas who are already in the main draw — Elizabeth Abarquez, Kaye Ann Emana, and Tenny Madis — have also been unveiled.
Abarquez will battle Japanese Mai Hontama, who had a main draw debut at the Australian Open in 2024, while Emana takes on Tatiana Prozorova, a 22-year-old Russian who has seven ITF titles and had a career-high ranking of 140.
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Madis tackles fellow Southeast Asian pride Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand, who reached her first WTA final at the Mumbai 125 in India.
The main draw of the Philippine Women's Open commences Monday, January 26, at the same Manila venue.