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

Just days after her tough three-set loss to Tatiana Prozorova at the Singapore Open, Filipino tennis star Alexandra Eala shifts focus to a bigger stage. On Monday, September 28, she begins her Asian Games campaign in Nagoya, facing Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej in the women's singles Round of 16.

Eala arrives as the tournament's top seed and the highest-ranked player in the women’s singles draw at No. 18 in the WTA rankings. She earned a first-round bye while Cheapchandej fought through a win against Pakistan’s Mahin Aftab Qureshi, defeating her 6-1, 6-1 in 53 minutes.

Match Timing and Court Details

The Asian Games schedule places Eala’s match on Centre Court on Monday, September 28. Although Centre Court action kicks off at 9 a.m. Philippine time with Japan’s Hayato Matsuoka versus Hong Kong’s Kairan Thompson in men’s singles, Eala's match will follow the subsequent women’s doubles game between Japan and Nepal.

The exact time depends on how long earlier matches last, so fans should track live updates on the official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 results site.

Where to Watch Alex Eala vs. Patcharin Cheapchandej

Filipino viewers can catch the match live thanks to Cignal, the official Philippine broadcaster for the Asian Games. Cignal invested an extra Php 1 million (about $16,000) to bring its own camera crew and equipment to the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center, ensuring coverage since tennis did not receive guaranteed live feed from the host broadcaster.

Asian Games tennis is available via One Sports, One Sports+, Cignal Play, and Pilipinas Live. Additional broadcasts include RPTV and the One Sports YouTube channel.

A Look at the Opponent and Past Meetings

Eala has faced Cheapchandej once before, winning 6-3, 6-4 at the 2022 ITF W25 event in Chiang Rai, Thailand, a tournament she eventually won. Four years later, their rankings show a wide gap: Eala stands at No. 18, while the 31-year-old Cheapchandej ranks No. 510. The Thai veteran boasts 13 ITF singles titles but never climbed above No. 356 in the WTA rankings.

After a hard-fought loss in Singapore that lasted over three hours, Eala aims to prove herself in Nagoya.

Chasing More Than Just a Medal

The stakes are higher than just medals at this year’s Asian Games. The International Tennis Federation’s qualification system for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics grants ITF Places to Asian Games singles champions, provided they meet other eligibility criteria.

• Olympic qualification conditions:
• Must be ranked inside the world’s Top 500
• Country must not have filled its four-player singles quota

Eala, comfortably within those rankings, could secure a ticket to the Olympics by winning gold.

Her choice to compete in Nagoya over the China Open, a mandatory WTA 1000 event, carries risks. The Philippine Tennis Association has requested an exemption on her behalf to avoid possible fines or losing ranking points. If denied, Eala might face a $10,000 penalty and no points for skipping Beijing.

"You know, the Asian Games happens once every four years," Eala said recently when explaining her decision. "I just found myself drawn to compete in that over other stuff."

Previous Asian Games Success and Expectations

At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Eala earned bronze medals in women’s singles and mixed doubles. This time, she enters as the top seed and clear gold medal favorite. A win here wouldn’t just upgrade her medal collection but also pave her path toward representing the Philippines at the Los Angeles Olympics.

Her journey begins Monday against a familiar adversary.