How to Watch Alex Eala’s Opening Match at the 2026 Asian Games: Schedule, TV, and Streaming Info
After a tough loss in Singapore, Alexandra Eala quickly shifts her focus to the Asian Games in Nagoya. On Monday, September 28, she will face Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej in the women’s singles Round of 16.
Eala, seeded No. 1 and ranked No. 18 in the WTA standings, is the top player in the women's singles draw. She bypassed the first round while Cheapchandej earned her spot by defeating Pakistan’s Mahin Aftab Qureshi 6-1, 6-1 in just 53 minutes.
When Will Alex Eala Play?
The match is set for Centre Court on Monday, but not at a fixed 9 a.m. start. The day’s play begins at 9 a.m. Philippine time with a men’s singles match between Japan’s Hayato Matsuoka and Hong Kong’s Kairan Thompson, followed by a women’s doubles clash featuring Japan and Nepal. Eala will take the court after those matches finish. Because the prior matches’ durations vary, fans should check the official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 results website for real-time updates on the order of play.
Where to Watch Alex Eala’s Match
Filipino viewers can watch Eala live through several platforms. Cignal, the official broadcaster for the Philippines, invested around Php 1 million (approximately $16,000) to set up dedicated cameras and digital gear at Higashiyama Park Tennis Center. Tennis was not initially included in the guaranteed live world feed from the host broadcaster.
Coverage will be available on One Sports, One Sports+, Cignal Play, and Pilipinas Live. Other options include RPTV and the One Sports YouTube channel.
About Patcharin Cheapchandej
Eala knows her opponent well. They met once before in 2022 at the ITF W25 Chiang Rai in Thailand, where Eala won 6-3, 6-4 and later took the tournament title. Four years later, their rankings show a big gap: Eala is No. 18 in the world, while Cheapchandej, 31 years old, sits at No. 510. The Thai veteran has claimed 13 ITF singles titles but never ranked higher than No. 356.
Eala enters this match aiming to bounce back after a grueling loss at the Singapore Open. She fell to Tatiana Prozorova in a three-hour battle, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Asian Games Gold and Olympic Dreams
The stakes are high for Eala beyond just winning a medal. According to the International Tennis Federation’s rules for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, winners of the men’s and women’s singles at the Asian Games earn an ITF Place for the Olympics if they meet certain eligibility criteria.
The champion must rank within the world’s Top 500 and come from a country that hasn’t filled its four-player singles quota through direct qualification. At No. 18, Eala easily fits the ranking requirement.
This Asian Games marks the first chance to secure these ITF Olympic spots.
Choosing Nagoya Over Beijing
The tennis event in Nagoya overlaps with the China Open, a mandatory WTA 1000 tournament for players of Eala’s ranking. She opted to represent the Philippines at the Asian Games instead, risking a potential WTA penalty.
The Philippine Tennis Association requested an exemption from the WTA on her behalf. While no fine or penalty has been confirmed, refusal could mean a $10,000 fine and no ranking points for the China Open.
"You know, the Asian Games happens once every four years," Eala said earlier this month. "I just found myself drawn to compete in that over other stuff."
She already earned bronze medals in women’s singles and mixed doubles at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Now, as the No. 1 seed and highest-ranked woman in the draw, Eala stands as a strong gold-medal contender. Winning here would not only upgrade her medal from three years ago but also pave her way to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, assuming all ITF requirements are met.
Her journey starts Monday against a familiar rival.
