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How to Watch Alex Eala's Asian Games Opening Match: Schedule, TV Channels, and Live Stream

Just days after a tough three-set loss to Tatiana Prozorova at the Singapore Open, Filipina tennis star Alexandra Eala is gearing up for her Asian Games debut on Monday, September 28. She will face Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej in the women’s singles Round of 16 in Nagoya.

Ranked No. 18 in the WTA and seeded first in this tournament, Eala stands as the highest-ranked player in the women’s singles draw. She advanced directly to the Round of 16 with a first-round bye, while Cheapchandej earned her spot by defeating Pakistan’s Mahin Aftab Qureshi 6-1, 6-1 in under an hour.

When Will Alex Eala Play?

The match between Eala and Cheapchandej is scheduled for Centre Court on Monday, September 28. The court action starts at 9 a.m. Philippine time, opening with a men’s singles match between Japan’s Hayato Matsuoka and Hong Kong’s Kairan Thompson, followed by a women’s doubles match featuring Japan versus Nepal. Eala’s match will take place after these two, with the exact start time depending on how long those earlier matches last.

For the latest updates on match timing, fans should check the official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 results site.

Where to Watch Alex Eala's Match Live

Filipino viewers can watch Eala’s Asian Games matches live through several platforms. Cignal, the official Philippine broadcaster of the Games, invested around Php 1 million (approximately $16,000) to bring its own cameras and digital equipment to Higashiyama Park Tennis Center. This was necessary because tennis was not included in the host broadcaster’s guaranteed live feed.

  • Available channels: One Sports, One Sports+, Cignal Play, Pilipinas Live
  • Additional coverage: RPTV, One Sports YouTube channel

This extra effort means that one of the Philippines’ top medal hopes will be seen by fans at home.

Head-to-Head and Rankings

Eala already has experience facing Cheapchandej, having beaten her 6-3, 6-4 in their only prior meeting at the 2022 ITF W25 Chiang Rai tournament in Thailand, which Eala went on to win. Since then, their rankings have diverged sharply.

  • Alexandra Eala: World No. 18, age 18
  • Patcharin Cheapchandej: World No. 510, age 31
  • Cheapchandej’s titles: 13 ITF singles titles
  • Highest WTA ranking for Cheapchandej: No. 356

Eala also wants to bounce back from her recent Singapore Open exit, where she lost in a grueling three-hour match to Tatiana Prozorova, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Asian Games Gold Could Lead to Olympic Qualification

Beyond just medals, there is more at stake for Eala in Nagoya. Under the International Tennis Federation’s rules for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, winners of the men’s and women’s singles events at the Asian Games can earn an ITF Olympic spot—provided they meet eligibility requirements.

  • The champion must be ranked within the world’s Top 500
  • Their country cannot have already filled the four-player singles quota via direct qualification
  • The 2026 Asian Games offer the first ITF Olympic spots available for Los Angeles 2028

Eala comfortably meets the ranking criterion, boosting the significance of her Asian Games participation.

Choosing Nagoya Over Beijing

The Asian Games tennis event overlaps with the China Open, a mandatory WTA 1000 tournament for a player of Eala’s ranking. She chose to represent the Philippines at the Asian Games instead, despite the risk of a WTA penalty.

The Philippine Tennis Association requested an exemption from the WTA on Eala’s behalf. If denied, she could face a $10,000 fine and earn no ranking points for skipping Beijing.

Eala stood firm on her choice, stating, "You know, the Asian Games happens once every four years. I just found myself drawn to compete in that over other stuff." She already has two bronze medals from the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou in women’s singles and mixed doubles.

Looking Ahead

Now as the top seed and highest-ranked woman in the field, Eala is a strong contender for gold in Nagoya. Winning would improve on her previous Asian Games medals and possibly secure a path to the 2028 Olympics, depending on the ITF criteria.

Her campaign kicks off Monday against a familiar opponent with much at stake.

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