How to Watch Alex Eala’s Asian Games Opening Match: Schedule, TV, and Streaming Info

Just days after her tough three-set loss to Tatiana Prozorova at the Singapore Open, Alexandra Eala is set to start her run for gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. The Filipino tennis star faces Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej in the women’s singles Round of 16 on Monday, September 28.

As the No. 1 seed and ranked No. 18 globally, Eala is the highest-ranked player in the women’s singles draw. She earned a first-round bye, while Cheapchandej advanced by beating Pakistan’s Mahin Aftab Qureshi 6-1, 6-1 in just 53 minutes.

When Will Alex Eala Play?

The match is scheduled for Centre Court on Monday, September 28. Eala will be the third match on that court, following two earlier matches that include Japan’s Hayato Matsuoka vs. Hong Kong’s Kairan Thompson and a women’s doubles contest between Japan and Nepal.

Centre Court action starts at 9 a.m. Philippine time. Because the previous matches’ lengths affect when Eala takes the court, fans should check the official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 website for live updates on the order of play.

Where to Watch Alex Eala vs. Patcharin Cheapchandej

Filipino viewers can catch Eala’s matches live through Cignal, the official broadcaster for the Philippines. To ensure live coverage despite tennis not being guaranteed a world feed from the host broadcaster, Cignal invested approximately Php 1 million (around $16,000) to provide its own cameras and digital streaming equipment at Higashiyama Park Tennis Center.

The Asian Games coverage in the Philippines is accessible via:

• One Sports
• One Sports+
• Cignal Play
• Pilipinas Live
• RPTV
• One Sports YouTube channel

This effort means one of the country’s top medal hopes won’t be out of sight during competition.

Head-to-Head and Rankings

Eala has faced Cheapchandej once before, winning 6-3, 6-4 at the 2022 ITF W25 Chiang Rai tournament in Thailand, which she went on to win. Four years later, the ranking gap between them has widened significantly. Eala is ranked No. 18 in the world, while the 31-year-old Thai veteran sits at No. 510. Cheapchandej has claimed 13 ITF singles titles but never rose above No. 356 in the WTA rankings.

After her recent exit in Singapore, where Prozorova came back from a set down to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in a grueling three-hour match, Eala is eager to prove herself on a bigger stage.

Asian Games Stakes: Olympic Qualification on the Line

The stakes at Nagoya go beyond medals. The International Tennis Federation’s system grants the men’s and women’s singles champions at the Asian Games an ITF spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, assuming other eligibility conditions are met. The winner must rank inside the world’s Top 500, and their nation cannot have already filled its four-player singles quota through direct qualification. At No. 18, Eala comfortably meets the ranking criteria.

The 2026 Asian Games is the first event offering these ITF Olympic spots, adding extra weight to Eala’s campaign.

Her choice to compete in Nagoya rather than the China Open—a mandatory WTA 1000 event—was deliberate. The Philippine Tennis Association requested an exemption from the WTA on her behalf. If denied, Eala could face a $10,000 fine and no ranking points for skipping Beijing, yet she stayed committed to representing the Philippines at the Asian Games.

“You know, the Asian Games happens once every four years,” Eala said. “I just found myself drawn to compete in that over other stuff.”

Eala already has Asian Games medals from 2023 in Hangzhou, where she won bronze in women’s singles and mixed doubles. This year, she arrives as the top seed, aiming for gold and potentially securing a spot in the 2028 Olympics.

Her journey begins Monday against a familiar rival.