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Eala’s Asian Games decision puts WTA rule debate in focus
Eala’s Asian Games choice has triggered a possible WTA fine and strong criticism from former players.
Alex Eala’s choice to compete at the 2026 Asian Games has sparked debate because it conflicts with the penultimate Masters event on the WTA calendar. Her decision means she will miss the China Open while trying to deliver gold for the Philippines.
Under WTA rules, players are expected to contest every Masters event unless they are injured, so Eala could face a fine from the governing body. She requested an exemption, but that appeal was turned down, leaving open the possibility of a sanction for one of the tour’s most followed players.
That prospect has drawn strong criticism from Steve Johnson, John Isner, and Sam Querrey, who argued that punishing Eala would be a mistake. “1000% she should play [the Asian Games], said Johnson on Nothing Major. “If the WTA fine her, that is the dumbest thing that they could do. Do not fine her.
“I know that they have not made exceptions in the past for certain players, but there is different rules for everyone. I hate to say it, but there just is.”
Isner added: “I’m with you. They should waive the fine. Her ranking is going to dip by virtue of not playing.”
Querrey was equally direct.
“They also need stars and she is one of the biggest,” he explained. “They have a lot of leverage going into an individual sport. If she goes ‘if you guys fine me, I will skip more tournaments’.
“Let’s see how it goes [if she says] I will skip the other tournaments in Asia, where she is going to be the biggest star.”
The issue is complicated further by the fact that several leading Chinese players, including Wang Xinyu, have chosen the China Open over the Asian Games.
Still, Eala has become one of the WTA Tour’s biggest draws in 2026. She has filled stadiums at the Australian Open and during the Middle Eastern swing, where long queues formed outside venues for her matches. She also stood out on the North American hardcourt swing, capped by her first WTA Tour title at the Washington Open.
Against that backdrop, many will see a fine as a poor decision, especially if it risks alienating a player whose matches continue to attract large crowds and strong support.
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Anisimova exits Singapore Open as WTA schedule pressure builds
Anisimova withdraws from Singapore Open and now faces WTA schedule and ranking pressure.
Amanda Anisimova has pulled out of the Singapore Open just before she was due to play her opening match. The American was scheduled to face Talia Gibson in the round of 16 at the WTA 500 event, but a left wrist injury has forced her to withdraw.
Her place in the draw has gone to lucky loser Viktoria Morvayova, who moves directly into the second round of the WTA Tour Asian tournament.
The immediate concern is the injury, but the withdrawal also leaves Anisimova facing possible consequences tied to her 2026 schedule. She has played a relatively light season so far, appearing in only 12 tournaments. Within that total, she has featured in just two WTA 500 events, one short of the mandatory three every female player is required to complete across the season.
She has played only the Brisbane International and Queen’s before Singapore this year, meaning the Singapore Open would have been her third tournament of that level. Now, with the event out of reach, she risks a fine if she does not add another WTA 500 appearance before the year ends.
There are only two tournaments left after Singapore, the Ningbo Open and the Pan Pacific Open, both set for October during the WTA Tour’s Asian swing. Anisimova has never played either event, so neither has been an obvious priority in her career. In 2026, though, one of them may become necessary.
If she skips both, she could face a point deduction or a monetary fine. That possibility sits alongside her hopes of reaching the WTA Finals, where she still has an outside chance of qualifying. She is currently 21st in the live Race for the WTA Finals standings, well outside the top eight spots that secure entry.
That leaves her with a decision that may shape the rest of her season. She could choose to play both WTA 500 tournaments in search of ranking points, while also trying to avoid any sanction. She will also be aiming to keep her WTA Finals hopes alive, especially with the event taking place on home soil at Indian Wells for the first time.
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Rivals praise Alex Eala as Singapore Open opens
Eala starts Singapore with rivals praising her impact and her character.
Alex Eala heads into the Asian Swing with her peers once again highlighting what she brings to the WTA Tour, both as a player and as a person.
The 21-year-old said she was “excited” to begin her Singapore Open campaign this week, adding that the event is “Closer to home, so I’m very happy”. She opens against either world No 152 Sofia Costoulas or world No 178 Tatiana Prozorova, with Amanda Anisimova and Mirra Andreeva possible later-round opponents in the WTA 500 field.
After Singapore, Eala is set to represent her country at the Asian Games, and she will miss the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing later this month.
As play gets underway, sixth seed and wildcard Leylah Fernandez spoke warmly about Eala’s influence. She said this week, “Alex is such an amazing player, and most importantly such an amazing person. She’s super kind, super humble. She always has a smile on her face.
“I know getting on tour, the Filipino community are super supportive of their players, and I felt that welcome when I came on tour.
“Wherever I was around the world there was always a beautiful crowd that was supporting me, and to have Alex there too really shows how much the Filipino community loves to support one of their own. So it’s really nice.”
World No 70 Alycia Parks also weighed in, saying the attention around Eala is “always fun” and that her popularity is “good for tennis”.
Elsewhere, Iva Jovic, who is at a career-high of 13, discussed the challenge of facing players she knows well, including Eala and Zeynep Sonmez. The 18-year-old, fresh from defending her title in Guadalajara, said, “It’s a strange one, but I think all of us are professional, and when we step on the court, we do our best to win, and all of that is aside, but I have no problems being friends and still being competitors.
“I don’t think it messes up anything on the court, and they’re both of those girls you mentioned are one of the best and nicest people, so I’m really grateful to have them in my life.”
Jovic defeated Eala in three sets in the third round of the US Open earlier this month. The two could meet again in 2026, with the American leading their head-to-head 3-0.
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Mouratoglou questions the new tone around defeats at the US Open
Mouratoglou challenges the growing habit of sounding content after defeat at the US Open.
Renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou has taken aim at what he sees as a growing habit on the ATP and WTA Tours, arguing that several players are too quick to frame painful losses in positive terms.
Carlos Alcaraz, Alex Eala, Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula all drew scrutiny from Mouratoglou after their US Open exits, with each of them saying they were satisfied with aspects of their performances. Alcaraz, the defending champion, fell to Ben Shelton in four sets in the quarter-final, then spoke about being proud of his effort and happy to leave the court with a smile.
“It was close. It was close. So I’m just not going to be disappointed about don’t getting the win at the end. You know, I’m just happy. I’m just proud about myself, about how I fought,” he said.
“You know, after the third set, physically I was really tired, but you know, I found a way to push myself up and, you know, physically giving extra.”
The world No 3 added: “You know, I leave the court happy. I leave the court with a smile, healthy, and this is what I needed.”
Eala, beaten by Iva Jovic in the third round, and Swiatek, who lost to Zheng Qinwen in the round of 16, also described their matches in similar terms. Pegula, meanwhile, said there was little she could do after falling in straight sets to Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-final.
Mouratoglou, writing on LinkedIn, said he was not convinced by that reaction. He pointed to Alcaraz’s long battle on court and argued that champions are defined by how deeply they dislike losing. In his view, no winning culture can coexist with acceptance of defeat.
The coach, who worked with Serena Williams from 2012 to 2022, also suggested Alcaraz may have arrived with limited expectations after a four-month injury absence and his first tournament since the Barcelona Open. But he said a player of that level should still believe the title is there to be won.
For Mouratoglou, the issue is not only etiquette after defeat, but a broader shift in attitude. He ended by suggesting the pattern is now hard to ignore: “So I guess it’s a trend.”
Anisimova exits Singapore Open as WTA schedule pressure builds
Ferrero’s possible return points toward Auger-Aliassime
Eala’s Asian Games decision puts WTA rule debate in focus
Alcaraz Confronts On‑court Microphones During US Open Practice Ahead of Opelka Match
Raducanu Arrives at US Open With Momentum After Strong Hard‑Court Swing
