Alex Eala makes quick work of Thai foe, reaches Asian Games QFs - GMA Network

Alex Eala got off to a rousing start in her 2026 Asian Games debut, ousting Thailand's Patcharin Cheapchandej, 6-1, 6-0, in their rain-delayed Round of 16 bout on Monday at the Indoor Court C of the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Japan.

The world No. 18 Filipina star, who was coming off an early exit in the Singapore Open, will now advance to the quarterfinals against Chinese Taipei's Joanna Garland.

Eala was unfazed by the inclement weather, which forced organizers to move her match to a later time and a smaller court after she was originally slated for a Centre Court showdown, as she cruised to a hot 4-0 start in Set 1.

But Cheapchandej broke Eala in the fifth game, forcing a forehand error from the Filipina before closing out the game with a forehand winner to finally get on the board.

Eala, however, responded by winning the next two games, including the seventh where she forced Cheapchandej into back-to-back return errors to wrap up the opening set.

Eala didn't leave any room for complacency in Set 2, sweeping the Thai foe with a clean 6-0 victory that allowed her to enter the Top 8 and inch closer to medal contention.

Eala also hiked her head-to-head record with Cheapchandej, whom she beat during the Round of 16 of her title run at the ITF W25 Chiang Rai in 2022.