JANUARY 30, 2026 — Alexandra “Alex” Eala’s much-awaited homecoming at the Philippine Women’s Open ended in heartbreak as she bowed out in the quarterfinals against Colombia’s Camila Osorio, 6-4, 6-4, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. For many fans, it was a bittersweet moment — finally seeing our tennis pride compete on home soil, only to watch her campaign cut short.

The match was tight. Eala fought hard, even leading 3-2 in both sets, but Osorio, a former world No. 33, showed why experience matters, snatching momentum at crucial points. Still, the fact that Eala stood toe-to-toe with a seasoned pro should not be overlooked. 

Isn’t this exactly the kind of exposure our athletes need — real battles against world-class opponents right here in Manila?

Her words after the loss hit differently: “Sayang, hindi pumasa sa level, pero ang importante, nandito ako sa Manila, sa Pilipinas, at nandito ang WTA.” 

(It’s a pity, I didn’t reach the level, but what’s important is that I’m here in Manila, in the Philippines, and the WTA is here.) 

Tennis has always played second fiddle in our basketball-obsessed country. But Alex Eala’s run in the Philippine Women’s Open is a wake-up call that the sport deserves a bigger spotlight.

She didn’t just show up; she took down Alina Charaeva and Himeno Sakatsume before running into Camila Osorio, a former world No. 33. That’s no small feat. And now, with her next stop being the Abu Dhabi Open as a wild card, will we keep cheering for her even after the headlines fade? Or do we wait for her next big win before pretending to care again?

Think about it — if we can pack coliseums for basketball games, why can’t we do the same for tennis, especially when a Filipina is already making waves on the international stage? Isn’t it time we treated tennis as more than just a passing spectacle?

Alex’s loss in Manila doesn’t define her. What it should define is how we, as a nation, choose to support her sport. Because if we only celebrate victories and ignore the struggles, then we’re missing the whole point of what makes athletes like her worth rooting for.

Isn’t defeat the spark that should light a bigger fight? 

(Image: Yahoo Sports)