Alex Eala caught off guard in choosing between Pacquiao and Nadal

Manila Times - Sep 19, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala arrived in Singapore for her upcoming World Tennis Association (WTA) 500 match and granted interviews to the media. In a “this or that” game with CNA Lifestyle, the 21-year-old Filipina star was made to choose between boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and tennis great Rafael Nadal. “Guys, that’s not fair. You guys did me dirty,” she laughed and decided not to answer. Eala also shared that she preferred the backhand in her swings, but this year her forehand has also been improving. Her on-court mantra was“Never give up, and no doubt,” which was also evident in her matches where she dug deep and trailed to snatch the victory. The WTA 500 Washington Open queen said that one of the fan moments that struck her the most was when she saw someone holding a huge baby head picture of her. Eala will try to top the first Asian leg of the WTA, starting from September 21 to 27, before contesting for a gold medal in the 2026 Asian Games that will be her ticket to the 2028 Olympics.

Read full article

More News

Hidilyn Diaz joins 2026 Asian Games torch relay

Sep 19, 2026

Hidilyn Diaz joins 2026 Asian Games torch relay

The Philippines" first Olympic gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz, joined the 2026 Asian Games torch relay as one of the torchbearers last Thursday.

Alex Eala leads prodigies as Asian Games to open in Japan Saturday

Sep 19, 2026

Alex Eala leads prodigies as Asian Games to open in Japan Saturday

NAGOYA, Japan — The 20th Asian Games will open in Japan later Saturday with a glittering ceremony following a stuttering build-up to a multi-sport spectacular that has more participants than the Olympics. The first gold medal will be won on Sunday morning, likely in the men's individual triathlon, and will be followed by 468 more in 45 sports before the curtain comes down on October 4. The event, which has 2028 Olympics places up for grabs in several sports, will be graced by global stars but has been dogged by a series of problems. The 17,000 participants -- more than the Olympics -- stretched organizers to the limit as they scrambled to find accommodation for everyone. To save money there is no traditional athletes' village, competitors instead staying in a combination of temporary container-style huts, hotels and the cruise ship Costa Serena. To add to the problems, there was a record deluge last week which flooded parts of Nagoya city and now a typhoon is approaching eastern Japan that could cause further disruption. Some athletes were left stranded at the airport when transport failed to turn up and several teams have complained about the quality of the huts, including the beds being too short. Weather forecasters are predicting that a typhoon could hit Japan's main island -- where Nagoya is situated -- on Sunday or Monday. Organizers are insisting that the latest edition of the Games, which were first held in 1951, will be "the most spectacular for generations." Basketball, football and cricket are among the sports already under way. As always at the Asian Games, Olympics staples such as athletics and swimming will sit side-by-side with regional favourites like sepak takraw and kabaddi. In a bid to attract younger viewers there will be eSports, breakdancing and BMX cycling. Padel, the fast-growing racquet sport, and MMA will make their Asian Games debuts. Prodigies Among those competing will be Philippine tennis sensation Alexandra Eala and a pair of prodigies in 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi. Yu will be in action in the pool straightaway on Sunday in the heats of the women's 200m butterfly. Taiwan boxer Lin Yu-ting will also be competing, two years after she won Paris Olympics gold in the middle of a major gender row that saw her eligibility questioned. Hosts Japan will look to their Olympic champions for success, with gymnast Shinnosuke Oka and javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi named in their team. North Korea will have more than 100 athletes competing across 14 sports, aiming to "bring joy to Marshal Kim Jong Un." China will again expect to top the medals table after winning a whopping 201 golds and 383 medals on home soil in Hangzhou at the Covid-delayed Games in 2023. They are sending more than 800 athletes, including 36 Olympic champions. Sooryavanshi will be part of an India cricket team looking to make a statement before the sport returns to the Olympics in Los Angeles after an absence of 128 years. India could face bitter rivals Pakistan in the final at Nagoya's new purpose-built cricket ground -- if forecast rain does not intervene.

Asian Games to open in Japan after troubled build-up

Sep 19, 2026

Asian Games to open in Japan after troubled build-up

The 20th Asian Games will open in Japan later Saturday with a glittering ceremony following a stuttering build-up to a multi-sport spectacular that has more participants than the Olympics.

NBA: Keyonte George inks $157.5-M extension with Utah Jazz

Sep 19, 2026

NBA: Keyonte George inks $157.5-M extension with Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz point guard Keyonte George agreed to a five-year, $157.5 million rookie-scale contract extension, multiple outlets reported Friday.

Postcard from Nagoya: Asian Games opening hour nears, but teething problems remain

Sep 19, 2026

Postcard from Nagoya: Asian Games opening hour nears, but teething problems remain

The Asian Games opening ceremony at Paloma Mizuho Stadium on Saturday will fire the starting gun on the first official days of competition in Nagoya and Tokyo, even if some athletes have already finished their events. Various team sports such as basketball, football and volleyball are working their way through the group stages, while some poor unfortunates, such as Hong Kong’s Shum Chun-hei and Liu Hei-yu, have already competed and bowed out. The pair were taking part in the modern pentathlon,...

Alex Eala ramps up training for Singapore Open

Sep 19, 2026

Alex Eala ramps up training for Singapore Open

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis ace Alexandra "Alex" Eala ramped up her training for the WTA 500 Singapore Tennis Open which will run from September 21 to 27 at The Kallang. Alex's father, Michael, posted photos of her training in a facility on Friday night. As a top-four player in a 28-player, 500-tier tournament, world No. 18 and No. 3 seed Eala secured a first-round bye to begin her campaign in the second round. Initially seeded No. 6, Eala moved three places up after the withdrawals of world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 13 Diana Shnaider and No. 15 Sorana Cirstea. Pegula, Shnaider, and Cirstea were supposed to claim the No. 1, No. 4 and No. 5 seeds respectively. World No. 5 Mirra Andreeva became the No. 1 seed while No. 11 Amanda Anisimova seized the No. 2 seed. World No. 19 Elise Mertens elevated to the No. 4 seed, completing the top four players with first-round byes. The Singapore Open was set to begin its qualifying stages on Saturday. After appearing multiple times at the New York Fashion Week, Eala went back to the Philippines on September 13.

Hong Kong cycling star Chloe Leung ready for race of truth in bid for Asian Games gold

Sep 19, 2026

Hong Kong cycling star Chloe Leung ready for race of truth in bid for Asian Games gold

After all the meticulous preparation, the talking and the injury frights, Chloe Leung Wing-yee is ready for the clock to start ticking on her race of truth in the remote hills of Shinshiro City on Sunday. The little finger on her right hand that Leung broke following a racing crash in Italy in July has been a nuisance, but she has reconciled with the fact that it is just one more challenge, besides the slopes and corners that characterise a deeply technical course, to overcome in her pursuit of...

How Alex Eala deals with being a tennis trailblazer

Sep 18, 2026

How Alex Eala deals with being a tennis trailblazer

SINGAPORE – For 18 minutes on the morning of Sept 18, Alexandra Eala, one of sports’ brightest young talents, was a study in poise. Dressed in a floral maxi dress at The NCO Club near JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach, the elegant 21-year-old demonstrated that she is as thoughtful with a microphone as she

NBA: Saddiq Bey, Pelicans agree on 3-year, 55.5 million extension

Sep 18, 2026

NBA: Saddiq Bey, Pelicans agree on 3-year, 55.5 million extension

NEW ORLEANS— Saddiq Bey has agreed to a three-year NBA contract extension with the New Orleans Pelicans that will pay the veteran power forward $55.5 million. Bey’s agents with Excel Sports Management announced the extension, which was first reported by ESPN on Thursday night. Bey averaged 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds last season, his first

NCAA: Nygel Gonzales stays positive through ACL recovery

Sep 18, 2026

NCAA: Nygel Gonzales stays positive through ACL recovery

MANILA, Philippines–Nygel Gonzales knows he has a long way to go before he can return to the court, but the San Beda guard is confident he is on the right track. The Season 101 MVP has been sidelined since tearing his ACL during the offseason, forcing him to watch from the sidelines as the Red

NCAA: Chad Gammad blocks out noise to deliver for Letran

Sep 18, 2026

NCAA: Chad Gammad blocks out noise to deliver for Letran

MANILA, Philippines—It’s no secret that Letran’s Chad Gammad has been under the bright spotlight of the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament. But after the Knights’ 99-62 drubbing of San Sebastian at San Juan Arena on Friday, Gammad made it clear that the attention disappears once he steps on the court. “For me, there’s pressure

Juliana Gomez leans on belief for Asian Games fencing campaign

Sep 18, 2026

Juliana Gomez leans on belief for Asian Games fencing campaign

READ: Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 MANILA, Philippines —Juliana Gomez is tempering her expectations for her Asian Games debut but vows to give her all for the Philippines in the Aichi-Nagoya fencing tournament from September 22 to 27. Gomez will compete in the women’s individual epee and team events

Recommended