WTA is crazy, cruel for excluding Eala from finals
The WTA is crazy. Or very crazy.
And I am taking that position because of the WTA’s decision to exclude Alex Eala from its finals this year, citing she got disqualified for competing in the 2026 Asian Games.
How cruel. Or very cruel.
Okay, Eala may still be out of the WTA top 10, and figured in some so-so matches. But like it or not, she is among the biggest stars in tennis today, even getting a larger audience at the gallery and social media.
And her getting named to the TIME100 Next 2026 with a write up from tennis great Rafael Nadal speaks volumes of her contributions to the sport. TIME would have chosen another established or rising male or female tennis star. But it chose Eala with reasons that Nadal clearly stated.
Then Maria Sharapova, who needs no introduction, interviews Eala over her podcast. Why not another WTA-ranked player? My answer: Sharapova knows who are the real stars in tennis.
The demographic that Eala also brings to the sport – whether that is 90-percent Filipino or 50-percent Asian – can never be overlooked. And don’t tell me non-Filipinos and non-Asians are not among those who are cheering Eala from the gallery or over social media.
Eala also knows that she is carrying the sport of women’s tennis on her shoulders, and the organizers WTA events surely love it, especially when she brings in the crowds and views.
Then the WTA excludes her from this year’s finals. What?
I wonder if the WTA cares about how much the organizers of the events – from the 125 to Grand Slams – have to put in in terms of money and effort. Such events need money to happen, and the organizers must ensure sponsors that the gallery will be filled and the social media views will reach high numbers.
And Eala has proven that she can fill up galleries and get the views.
The organizers also go to great lengths to endear Eala to the fans, such as the meet and greet event held for the Singapore Open. Then there’s the exhibition match with Iva Jovic at the US Open that was complete with theatrics never seen in the sport. I even think that the top 5 deserved more of such theatrics. But why Eala?
Eala also gave us the most memorable match at this year’s Wimbledon, beating defending champion Iga Swiatek in an epic rubber matchup.
Then the WTA boots her out of the WTA finals for this year?
Maybe the WTA thinks that the rising young tennis stars, mostly in their teens and are upsetting top 50 players, can easily take Eala’s place. Sorry, but a young prodigy who can beat a top 50 and eventually a top 10 player cannot thrive on a “clinical” image to get the galleries filled and the views coming.
If the WTA’s popularity thrives on young players who win championships, especially Grand Slams, then Mira Andreeva, Linda Noskova, or Jovic would be much more prominent than Eala now.
But that is not the case, and Eala even stole the thunder from Noskova at this year’s Wimbledon, even if the Czech emerged the champion.
And come to think of it – the WTA is facing a possible operating loss of $26 million this year, based on media reports. Also, the WTA’s cash pile is estimated to settle at $15 million this year.
Such developments should prompt the WTA’s leadership to take advantage of the sport’s top attractions, including Eala.
The US Open organizers clearly took advantage of that by featuring Eala in an exhibition match with Jovic.
But let’s make an insane assumption – maybe the WTA wants Eala to reserve her energy for next year’s grind, as this year’s competition visibly resulted in a degree of burnout for her. Just imagine the effort she put in at Wimbledon, and her dream run at the Washington Open, where she faced a good number of top players.
She also added to her list of top 10 players beaten Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka, and current No. 1 Elena Rybakina. Eala also beat Jesica Pegula for the Washington Open title.
And as I write this column, Eala has figured in about 60 single games. That’s at least six games per month. Tough grind.
I am not seeking the crucifixion of WTA officials, and I even laud their move to regulate the number of games the top 50 have to play starting next year.
I even believe that the players below the top 50 and 100 be given the chance to play more games including at the qualifiers, and round of 64 and 128. The WTA organizers can consider a round of 256 pitting made up of players below the top 50.
It is also high time that the WTA give the players who recently won titles the chance to rest if they wish. How many times have we seen recently-crowned champions fall in the early rounds of the next events? That happened to Eala and Leylah Fernandez.
And I am sure those suggestions do not sound crazy or cruel.
