Eala wins Asian Games opener as rain disrupts events

Alexandra Eala opened her Asian Games tennis campaign with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej on Monday, September 28, as rain disrupted competition in Nagoya and forced the match indoors. The Philippines’ top-seeded player completed the round-of-16 match in 55 minutes and advanced to the quarterfinals, where she is scheduled to face Taiwan’s Joanna Garland. The rain delay prompted organizers to move Eala’s match from the outdoor court to a smaller indoor venue. The change also meant that spectators who had bought tickets for the outdoor match did not see her play there. The indoor match drew only a few dozen spectators, according to an on-site account, rather than the expected crowd at the 3,500-capacity outdoor court. Eala, ranked 18th in the world, is seeking the Asian Games singles title. She became the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour title last month. A singles gold medal at the Games would directly qualify the champion for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, according to reports on the tournament’s qualification rules. Eala won bronze medals in singles and mixed doubles at the 2023 Asian Games.