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How to Watch Alex Eala’s Asian Games Debut: Schedule, TV, and Streaming Info

Alexandra Eala, the top-seeded Filipina tennis player, steps into her Asian Games campaign Monday, September 28, facing Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej in the women’s singles Round of 16 in Nagoya. Coming off a tough three-set loss to Tatiana Prozorova at the Singapore Open, Eala quickly shifts focus to this major event where she aims for gold.

The match will take place on Centre Court, but not at a fixed time. Play starts at 9 a.m. Philippine time with a men’s singles match, followed by a women’s doubles clash before Eala’s game. The exact start depends on how long earlier matches last, so fans should keep an eye on the official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 results site for live updates.

Broadcast and Streaming Details

Filipino supporters can watch Eala’s matches live thanks to Cignal, the official Philippine broadcaster. Cignal invested about Php 1 million (around $16,000) to set up its own cameras at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center after tennis was excluded from the host broadcaster’s guaranteed live feed.

Coverage is available through several platforms including:

  • One Sports
  • One Sports+
  • Cignal Play
  • Pilipinas Live
  • RPTV
  • One Sports YouTube channel

This setup ensures one of the Philippines’ brightest medal prospects gets proper attention back home.

Head-to-Head and Rankings

Eala holds the advantage over Cheapchandej, having beaten her 6-3, 6-4 at the 2022 ITF W25 Chiang Rai tournament in Thailand, which Eala won. Now ranked No. 18 globally, she stands far ahead of the 31-year-old Thai veteran, who is ranked No. 510. Though Cheapchandej has 13 ITF singles titles, her highest career ranking was No. 356.

After her marathon Singapore loss lasting over three hours, Eala likely enters this match with determination to prove herself.

Asian Games Stakes Beyond Medals

The stakes extend beyond just winning medals. The International Tennis Federation offers a path to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics for Asian Games singles champions, provided they meet certain conditions. Champions must be ranked within the world’s Top 500 and come from countries that have not already filled their Olympic singles quotas.

At No. 18, Eala comfortably fits the ranking requirement. This edition of the Asian Games is the first to award these ITF Olympic qualification spots.

Choosing Nagoya over competing in the China Open, a mandatory WTA 1000 event, adds risk. The Philippine Tennis Association asked the WTA for an exemption on Eala’s behalf. Should it be denied, she might face a $10,000 fine and earn no ranking points for skipping Beijing.

“You know, the Asian Games happens once every four years,” Eala said recently. “I just found myself drawn to compete in that over other stuff.”

Looking Ahead

At Nagoya, Eala arrives not just as a contender but the highest-ranked woman in the singles draw, aiming to upgrade the bronze medals she earned at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Winning here would boost her chances of representing the Philippines at the Los Angeles Olympics.

Her journey begins Monday against a familiar rival, with hopes high for a strong run.

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