FILIPINA tennis star Alex Eala made a resounding start to her 2026 Aichi‑Nagoya Asian Games campaign on Monday, defeating Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej in commanding fashion, 6–1, 6–0, at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Japan.
The 21‑year‑old overcame pre‑match disruptions — including multiple schedule delays and a last‑minute venue change from Centre Court to Indoor Court C due to weather — to seal the victory in just 55 minutes.
Eala appeared unfazed by the shifting conditions, noting that the fundamentals of the game remain constant regardless of external circumstances.
“At the end of the day, the measurements of the court are the same, the external factors are out of my control, and it’s not the first time that I played in conditions like this,” she said. She raced to a 4–1 lead in the first set before tightening her grip on the match, reeling off eight consecutive games to close out the contest without dropping a game in the second set.
With the opening hurdle cleared, Eala has set up a quarterfinal showdown with Joanna Garland of Chinese Taipei. The exact date and time for their next encounter have yet to be announced, but Eala emphasized the mindset that will guide her forward: “It’s a lot of patience, a lot of being ready. I just need to be open‑minded and be flexible.” Having already secured a first‑round bye, she remains in strong form and poised to contend for a medal as the competition intensifies.
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