Alex Eala listed fourth in Auckland Classic

By Tracy Cabrera

MANILA — Filipina rising star Alexandra ‘Alex’ Eala has confirmed she will be competing in next year’s Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Open in New Zealand, scheduled at the Auckland’s Manuka Doctor Arena from January 5 to 11.

The Auckland Open, commonly known as the Auckland Savings Bank (ASB) Classic, is a key part of the 20-year-old tennis sensation’s early 2026 schedule, which includes several events in Oceania and Asia as she starts her new season.

Eala, having achieved a top 50 world ranking in 2025 and automatic main draw entries for all Grand Slams, is a notable entry in the field.

However, the most amazing news in the tourney is the comeback of seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams, who has also commited to start her 33rd pro season by joining the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 250 Tournament.

Organizers of the ASB Classic in New Zealand announced on Wednesday, December 10, that Williams, 45, would feature at the event via a wild-card entry. This suggests that the American singles champion is preparing for the Australian Open, where she has twice lost in the final and last appeared at in 2021.

Currently ranked No. 570, Williams is five years older than the next-oldest-ranked players, Japan’s Naoko Eto and Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States.

Tournament director Nicolas Lamperin said he is thrilled with the caliber of the 22 direct entrants, all ranked inside the world’s top 92, which includes Ukraine’s Eluna Svitolina and American Emma Navarro, ranked 14th and 15the respectively, and Lulu Sun of New Zealand.

Here is the official 22-player field:

Elina Svitolina (UKR) – 14

Emma Navarro (USA) – 15

Iva Jonvic (USA) – 35

Alex Eala (PHL) – 52

Janice Tjen (IDN) – 53

Magna Linette (POL) – 55

Wang Xinyu (CHN) – 56

Peyton Stearns (USA) – 63

Sonay Kartal (GBR) – 69

Donna Vekic (CRO) – 70

Francesca Jones (GBR) – 74