Camille Naredo

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. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

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

Article (news)

WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178023873447420260128-tennis-wta125-ph-r16-eala-sakatsume-JC0313.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala faces Japan&#x27;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. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala faces Japan&#x27;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. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala will open her grass campaign at the Birmingham Open, where she will take on WTA No. 143 Priscilla Hon in the first round.</p><p>They hold a 1-1 record vs each other, as Eala won their 2023 match in Roehampton 2. The breakthrough star took the victory in two sets, 6-2, 6-4. </p><p>Hon, meanwhile, won their 2024 match in Ningbo, China. The score was 6-4, 6-3.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/5/27/alex-eala-to-keep-on-working-keep-on-building-1317"><strong>Alex Eala to ‘keep on working, keep on building’ </strong></a> </div><p>The Australian reached a career-high of no. 94 in 2025 and currently holds a 2026 record of 5 wins and 12 losses. </p><p>Eala is now the top seed in the updated draw, as Indonesian Janice Tjen is now second while still awaiting her opponent. </p><p>Tatjana Maria of Germany is the third seed who will face WTA No. 149 Linda Fruhvirtova. </p><p>The fourth-seed Talia Gibson will face American WTA No. 135 Elvina Kalieva. </p><p>In doubles, Eala partners with WTA No. 69 Nikola Bartunkova of Czech Republic to face second-seed Great Britain duo Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden. </p><p>Dart is ranked 171 in singles and 109 for doubles. Lumsden is ranked 64 for doubles yet unranked for singles.</p><p>The order of play has yet to be announced. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/5/28/alex-eala-makes-it-to-forbes-30-under-30-list-0931"><strong>Alex Eala, Zack Tabudlo make it to Forbes Asia&#x27;s &#x27;30 Under 30&#x27; list</strong></a></div><div> </div><div><strong>WATCH:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L7vgi_qRdPw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala faces WTA No. 143 Priscilla Hon in the first round of the Birmingham Open.</p>

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala faces WTA No. 143 Priscilla Hon in the first round of the Birmingham Open.

Tennis: Alex Eala kicks off grass season against familiar foe Hon in Birmingham

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Tennis: Alex Eala kicks off grass season against familiar foe Hon in Birmingham

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 31, 2026 10:46 PM PHT

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Alex Eala

Priscilla Hon

Birmingham Open

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