Alexandra Eala has opted to represent the Philippines at the 2026 Asian Games instead of entering the China Open, the penultimate Masters event on the WTA Tour calendar.

Speaking at the US Open, Eala explained that competing for her country was the deciding factor. “Before that, I believe I’ll be in Singapore. But yeah, I love playing and competing with the Philippine team,” said Eala at the US Open of her decision to play the Asian Games.

She added: “You know, the SEA games, the Asian Games I’ve also done. I think it’s a really fun environment and I love being with the team especially this last SEA games in December.

“I had such a great time and I think they’re really memories that stick with me and and, you know, the Asian Games happens once every four years and I just found myself drawn to competing in that aside from other stuff.”

Eala’s choice may leave her facing a WTA Tour fine, since Masters events are mandatory if a player is not injured. Even so, her commitment to the event is now settled, and the Philippine Tennis Association has confirmed the lineup for the tournament.

She will be joined by Francis Casey Alcantara, Shaira Hope Rivera, Tennielle Madis, and Stefi Marithe Aludo. The 21-year-old is the leading name in the group, but the rest of the squad also brings experience representing the Philippines on major stages.

Alcantara has won nine medals for the Philippines across the SEA Games and the Asian Games, despite never getting inside the ATP top 700. Rivera has claimed a SEA Games bronze, has played in Billie Jean King Cup competition, and collected two bronze medals at the 2025 SEA Games. The 19-year-old also appeared at the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open earlier this year, where she lost to Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the first round of the WTA 125 event.

Stefi Marithe Aludo, 17, is the youngest member of the team. She played qualifying at the Philippine Women’s Open, but fell in the final round.

In a press release, PHILTA Secretary General John Rey Tiangco said: “PHILTA is fielding a strong and competitive team for the Asian Games, led by Alex Eala alongside some of the country’s best tennis players.”

The Asian Games run from 19 September to 4 October, with tennis beginning on 27 September. That date also matches the Singapore Open, where Eala is scheduled to play, leaving her with a rapid turnaround if she reaches the final.

The 2026 US Open has arrived at its decisive stage, and the last eight in the women’s draw feature the top six players in the WTA Rankings, plus Emma Navarro and qualifier Zheng Qinwen.

Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Mirra Andreeva and Linda Noskova fill six of the quarter-final spots at Flushing Meadows, while Navarro and Zheng complete the lineup.

The title race is closely tied to the battle for No 1. Sabalenka, Rybakina, Pegula and Gauff all remain in contention for the top ranking, but they are not on equal terms. Rybakina needs only a semi-final run to move ahead of Sabalenka, while Sabalenka, Pegula and Gauff must win the tournament to have a chance.

Aryna Sabalenka (1) v Linda Noskova (6)

This match brings together the reigning US Open champion and the reigning Wimbledon champion. Sabalenka has already beaten Noskova twice, both times on hard courts, in Adelaide in 2023 and at this year’s Indian Wells Open. Noskova is still searching for her first set against her.

Jessica Pegula (3) v Emma Navarro (26)

Pegula also carries a strong record into her match, leading Navarro 4-0. Her recent North American swing has included a runner-up finish at the Washington DC Open, a round-of-16 result in Toronto and a loss to Coco Gauff in the Cincinnati Open final.

Mirra Andreeva (5) v Coco Gauff (4)

Gauff has won all five of their previous meetings. Four of those came on clay, with only one on hard court, at the 2023 US Open. Gauff has gone 14-1 on hard courts during the swing, while Andreeva is 7-2.

Zheng Qinwen (Q) v Elena Rybakina (2)

Rybakina arrives after a straight-sets win over Naomi Osaka and owns a 4-1 head-to-head lead over Zheng. Yet Zheng has built serious momentum, coming through qualifying and defeating Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek. She has now played seven matches, including three in qualifying, so fatigue could still matter.

If the predictions are correct, Sabalenka would meet Pegula and Gauff would face Zheng in the semi-finals.

The quarter-final bracket at the 2026 US Open is now complete, and it will not include Naomi Osaka or Iva Jovic after both were beaten convincingly in the fourth round.

Osaka, seeded 13th, had needed three sets in each of her previous two matches, but she found world No 2 Elena Rybakina far too strong. The second seed moved through 6-1, 6-4, ending Osaka’s run in straightforward fashion. Even so, the former world No 1 was measured in her assessment afterwards.

“Maybe I’m just getting older, but I don’t feel sad,” Osaka said. “I think, also, if I reflect on my career and the things that I’ve been able to do, there’s nothing that I regret or there’s nothing that I’m sad about … If I win another Grand Slam, it’s not going to change my life.”

Jovic also arrived in the round of 16 after a long battle in the previous round, needing three hours to get past Alex Eala. Against fourth seed Coco Gauff, the American could not repeat that resilience and fell by the same 6-1, 6-4 scoreline.

Gauff had warm words for her 18-year-old compatriot after the match, saying: “She plays beyond her years. I’m looking to many more battles out here.”

Both players still leave New York with ranking consequences. Osaka had been defending the semi-final points she earned 12 months ago, and because a fourth-round result is worth only 240 points, she drops 540 points from her tally and falls four places to No 17 in the Live WTA Rankings.

Jovic is also set to slide after losing points from multiple events, including her Guadalajara Open title defence from 2025. In total, she drops 281 points and moves down two places to No 16 in the Live WTA Rankings.

There is prize money to add as well. Osaka’s fourth-round showing is worth $480,000, lifting her 2026 earnings to $2,489,474 and her career total to $27,092,806 once the payment clears. Jovic’s run takes her to $3,515,036 in career prize money, with $1,909,288 earned in 2026.