Eala an overwhelming favorite in WTA's 'Star of the Swing' poll
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala is on track for another recognition before she plunges back to action closer to home at the start of her Asian swing Thursday in Singapore and the Asian Games next week in Japan.
Eala, as one of the tour leg winners in the just-concluded North American hardcourt swing, headlines the race in the “Star of the Swing” poll by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) as the season shifts to Asia.
The 21-year-old Filipina, ranked No. 18 in the world, has a whopping 78%of over 5,000 votes as of writing time for a runaway lead over seven other candidates.
Eala qualified in the “Star of the Swing” on the grand hard courts of North America after winning her maiden WTA Tour title in the WTA500 Mubadala Citi D.C. Open in Washington last month with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 comeback victory over home bet Jessica Pegula.
She also netted her biggest career seeding at No. 29 in the US Open, where she made it to the third round.
Newly minted US Open champion and world No.1. Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan follows suit at 16% while Canada Open winner Iga Swiatek of Poland (WTA No. 9) is at 3%.
Other candidates include US Open runner-up Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus (No. 2), Cincinnati winner Coco Gauff of USA (No.4), Monterey winner Diane Parry of France (No. 30) and Guadalajara winner Iva Jovic of USA (No. 13).
Completing the list is the World No. 1 pair of Katerina Siniakova of Czechia and Taylor Townsend of USA, who ruled the US Open to complete a career Grand Slam after previously winning the 2024 Wimbledon, 2025 Australian Open and 2026 French Open.
Last July, Eala also earned the “Star of the Swing” for the grass-court season in Europe after a WTA125 title in Birmingham and a Round of 16-finish in Wimbledon with 89% of the total votes. She bested Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova (7%) and runner-up Karolina Muchova (3%), both from Czechia.
Eala is hoping to carry on that momentum into the Asian swing, beginning with a Round 2 duel against No. 180 Tatiana Prozorova in the WTA500 Singapore Open Thursday at the OCBC Arena.
Court designation and game time are still to be announced, with the lefty ace gaining a first-round bye and extra days off as the No. 3 seed.
Eala is looking to settle some unfinished business in Singapore after a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Simona Waltert of Switzerland in the qualifying round last year when she was still outside the Top 100.
It’s also part of her preparation for the Asiad from September 27 to October 2 in Nagoya, with hopes of improving on her two bronze medals in women’s and mixed doubles events in the 2023 Hangzhou Games.
Listed in the women’s singles and women’s doubles, Eala is the Asiad title favorite as the highest-ranked WTA player and especially with the absence of reigning gold medalist Zheng Qinwen of China.
abtestabtest Eala takes on Russia’s Prozorova at start of Singapore Open campaign By John Bryan Ulanday | 1 day ago Alex Eala will face Tatiana Prozorova of Russia in the second round of the Singapore Open as part of her final Asian Games... Sports Sibol opens Asian Games esports campaign with Naraka, Puyo Puyo By Michelle Lojo | 21 hours ago The country's national esports team, Sibol, will begin its campaign at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 this week... Sports Eala to face Prozorova in Singapore By John Bryan Ulanday | 15 hours ago And the battle lines are drawn. Sports Bossong brings golden hope By Nelson Beltran | 15 hours ago Much of the focus is on EJ Obiena for Philippine athletics. Sports No feed, no problem: Cignal to air Eala live By Nelson Beltran | 1 day ago Alex Eala gave up Beijing WTA 1000, and shots at a lucrative prize and ranking points, to play for flag and country in the... Sports Latest More in Sports Blue Eagle booters banner latest Ateneo Sports Hall of Fame inductees Gilas men dominate Kazakhs, enter Asian Games 3x3 quarterfinals UE coach challenges players to show more grit as hunt for elusive UAAP win continues Bahia, Simeon rule Grand Corporate Golf tilt abtest Looking at Ateneo’s Loss to UP By Rick Olivares | 3 hours ago That was quite a beatdown by the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on the Ateneo Blue Eagles as the former won... Sports Blue Eagles still getting used to defense-oriented play, says coach Alas By Ralph Edwin Villanueva | 4 hours ago Defense is the name of the game for Ateneo head coach Louie Alas. Sports Alas women vow to learn, come back stronger from Asiad experience 6 hours ago For Alas Pilipinas Women, the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games was about the chance to compete for a medal, and a ninth-place... Sports Pasay, Caloocan prevail as MPBL elims end 7 hours ago The Pasay Voyagers and Caloocan Batang Kankaloo bared their readiness for the playoffs with victories over different opp... Sports Recommended Yaman ni VP Sara lumobo kahit lugi kumpanya 15 hours ago Nasilip sa impeachment trial nitong Martes ang patuloy na paglaki ng yaman ni Vice President Sara Duterte matapos sabihin... SportsIMPEACHMENT GenCorp ni VP Sara, nakakuha ng 19 kontrata sa Davao City - Baste September 23, 2026 - 12:00am Nilinaw ni Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte na nakakuha ng kabuuang P33.26 milyon ang GenCorp Industries Inc., na iniuugnay sa kaniyang kapatid na si Vice President Sara Duterte, mula sa 19...r SportsTRENDING Kasosyo sa negosyo ni VP Sara ex-envoy ni Duterte sa China 15 hours ago Kinumpirma ng prosekusyon sa ika-28 na araw ng impeachment trial na si Jaime Tan Cruz na lumitaw ang pangalan sa dokumento... SportsIMPEACHMENT Panukalang batas para sa mas ligtas na mga paaralan aprubado na sa Senado September 23, 2026 - 12:00am Inaprubahan na kahapon sa Senado ang isang panukalang batas na layong magpapatatag sa seguridad ng ating mga paaralan: ang Comprehensive School Safety Act (Senate Bill No. 2426). SportsSENATE PANOORIN: Jaime T. Cruz sa records ni VP Sara, ex-envoy ni Digong! 22 hours ago Jaime T. Cruz, nasa corporate records ni Sara, lumitaw rin bilang dating special envoy ni Digong. SportsSARA DUTERTE next Recommended Yaman ni VP Sara lumobo kahit lugi kumpanya Nasilip sa impeachment trial nitong Martes ang patuloy na paglaki ng yaman ni Vice President Sara Duterte matapos sabihin ng isang opisyal ng Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) na karamihan sa mga kumpanyang idineklara niya sa kanyang Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth o SALN ay nalugi at walang naiulat na dibidendong ibinayad sa mga shareholder. 15 hours ago IMPEACHMENT GenCorp ni VP Sara, nakakuha ng 19 kontrata sa Davao City - Baste Nilinaw ni Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte na nakakuha ng kabuuang P33.26 milyon ang GenCorp Industries Inc., na iniuugnay sa kaniyang kapatid na si Vice President Sara Duterte, mula sa 19 kontrata sa pamahalaang lungsod simula 2022. Mas mataas ito kaysa sa napaulat na P14.32 milyon. 15 hours ago TRENDING Kasosyo sa negosyo ni VP Sara ex-envoy ni Duterte sa China Kinumpirma ng prosekusyon sa ika-28 na araw ng impeachment trial na si Jaime Tan Cruz na lumitaw ang pangalan sa dokumento ng ilang negosyo na may kaugnayan kay Vice President Sara Duterte, ay siya ring special envoy to China for trade and investments na itinalaga noong 2019 ng noo’y Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. 15 hours ago IMPEACHMENT Panukalang batas para sa mas ligtas na mga paaralan aprubado na sa Senado Inaprubahan na kahapon sa Senado ang isang panukalang batas na layong magpapatatag sa seguridad ng ating mga paaralan: ang Comprehensive School Safety Act (Senate Bill No. 2426). 15 hours ago SENATE PANOORIN: Jaime T. Cruz sa records ni VP Sara, ex-envoy ni Digong! Jaime T. Cruz, nasa corporate records ni Sara, lumitaw rin bilang dating special envoy ni Digong. 22 hours ago SARA DUTERTE OK Are you sure you want to log out? Yes No X Login Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!
