FILIPINA tennis star Alex Eala advanced to the second round of the Philippine Women’s Open with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over Russian challenger Alina Charaeva

in front of a huge home crowd on Monday night at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

As the tournament’s second seed, Eala now awaits her next opponent, which will be decided in a clash between Japan’s Nao Hibino and Himeno Sakatsume.

“I’d like to thank everyone who came out to watch,” said the World No. 49 after her victory. “Playing at home does add pressure, but it’s nothing compared to the daily struggles faced by ordinary Filipinos providing for their families.”

Meanwhile, local wild cards Tennielle Madis and Elizabeth Abarquez faced early exits in the WTA 125 event, the inaugural project under the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee led by Philippine Sports Commission Chair Patrick Gregorio.

Thai player Mananchaya Sawangkaew, the 2025 Southeast Asian Games silver medalist, defeated Philippine No. 2 Madis, 6-4, 6-0. She will next face either Japan’s Lulu Sun or Zhu Lin of China.

Japanese Mai Hontama dominated Abarquez, a member of seven-time UAAP champion National University, with a 6-0, 6-0 victory. Hontama will meet Colombia’s Camila Osorio, who earned a 6-4, 6-3 win over Japanese qualifier Sakura Hosogi.

“I think you guys are really warm. I like this country!” Osorio said during her on-court interview.

Unseeded Thai player Lanlana Tararudee upset seventh seed Swiss player Simona Waltert, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, to move forward. She will face Polina Kudermetova of Uzbekistan, who defeated Japan’s Miho Kuramochi 6-3, 7-5.

Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva secured her spot with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Thailand’s Peangtarn Plipuech, and will next face either Belgium’s Sofia Costoulas—a player who eliminated Slovakian qualifier Viktoria Morvayova after a tight 7-6(8), 6-7(4), 6-4 match.

In doubles action, Latvia’s Darja Semenistaja and Argentina’s Nicole Fossa Huergo defeated Filipino pair Kaye Emana and Justine Maneja, 6-2, 6-2.

“Win or lose, I will learn,” said Emana of the University of Santo Tomas, reflecting her resilient mindset. The UAAP Season 87 co-MVP will make her singles debut on Tuesday against Russian Tatiana Prozorova.