Fans cheer as Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala faces Japan's Himeno Sakatsume in the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open Round of 16 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila on January 28, 2026. Eala booked a spot in the quarterfinals after beating Sakatsume 6-4, 6-0. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA – The country's first-ever hosting of a WTA tournament has drawn positive feedback—from the players to the fans—and the international organization has definitely taken notice.
Ahead of the sold-out final of the Philippine Women's Open on Saturday afternoon, the WTA was all praises for the Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
READ: Colombia's Camila Osorio wins inaugural PH Women's Open
"To tell you the truth, it's an excellent turnout. As you could see, we have a very good field of players. But also, it's a great opportunity for WTA players to experience a tournament in this region. In the Asia Pacific, we are lacking in tournaments, and I think it's a great opportunity to develop tennis in the region. So, it's a great turnout," WTA Supervisor Cristina Romero said.
She noted that one thing that stood out in the country's hosting was the Filipino hospitality and the overall atmosphere of the tournament. Players have been raving about the organizers' high level of accommodation, as well as the warmth and support of the Filipino fans.
"I think the most important part is that we all felt very welcome here in the Philippines. We saw the crowd—they were super interested in the tournament since day one, since the qualifying. We had a huge amount of people coming every day," Romero explained.
"We understand that Alex Eala brought a lot of attention to the community, encouraging people to come and see matches. But she was not the only one who enjoyed the huge crowds. That shows that the fans in the Philippines are ready to come and enjoy tennis," she added.
PHILTA and the PSC have earlier expressed interest in hosting a higher-level WTA tournament as part of their long-term vision for developing the sport in the country. With the Philippine Women's Open now officially in the books, many are wondering if the planned upgrade will indeed push through.
"Well, I have to say that I have overseen several 125s, and this has a very, very high standard. Actually, it competes with 250s in different categories," Romero said. "If you're asking me if the Philippines would be ready to host a tournament of a higher caliber, then they're ready."
Though the final decision rests with WTA senior management, Romero emphasized that the success of the Philippine Women's Open has positioned the country as a formidable candidate for higher-tier tournaments.
"Listen, this is something that is decided by my superiors. Of course, my feedback on the tournament and how the organization held a great event can help show that the Philippines is prepared to host a worldwide event. That is for sure," she shared.
"Now, the other thing is that the tournament and the calendar have to be prepared by different groups. There's the Players' Council and the Tournament Council. So, that is a decision that comes from the organization, and we will have to see if they have a spot in the calendar to do it," Romero said.
PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio had one question for the packed center court at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center on Saturday: "Do you want another WTA tournament in 2027?"
Loud cheers echoed throughout the court following the question—a clear sign that Filipino fans are ready for more high-level tennis action on Philippine soil, sooner rather than later.