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

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

Alex Eala's Asian Games Debut Against Patcharin Cheapchandej

After a tough loss in Singapore, Alexandra Eala is ready to start her campaign for gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. On Monday, September 28, she faces Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej in the women’s singles Round of 16.

Eala enters as the top seed and is ranked No. 18 in the WTA, making her the highest-ranked player in the women’s singles event. She earned a first-round bye, while Cheapchandej advanced by beating Pakistan’s Mahin Aftab Qureshi 6-1, 6-1 in less than an hour on Sunday.

Match Timing and Venue Details

The match will take place on Centre Court, starting after the first two matches on Monday morning. Centre Court action begins at 9 a.m. Philippine time with a men’s singles match between Japan’s Hayato Matsuoka and Hong Kong’s Kairan Thompson. Following that is a women’s doubles match featuring Japan and Nepal. Eala’s match will start once the preceding games finish, so fans should check the official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 results site for updates.

Where to Watch Alex Eala's Match Live

Fans in the Philippines can watch the match live thanks to Cignal, the official broadcaster for the Asian Games in the country. They invested roughly Php 1 million (around $16,000) to set up their own cameras and digital gear at Higashiyama Park Tennis Center since tennis was not included in the host broadcaster's guaranteed live feed.

Coverage is available on One Sports, One Sports+, Cignal Play, and Pilipinas Live. Other options include RPTV and the One Sports YouTube channel. This extra effort makes sure one of the Philippines' top medal hopes won’t be missed back home.

Previous Encounter and Player Comparison

Eala has beaten Cheapchandej once before, winning 6-3, 6-4 at the 2022 ITF W25 Chiang Rai tournament in Thailand, where she went on to claim the title. Four years on, their rankings show a clear gap: Eala sits at No. 18 globally, while the 31-year-old Thai veteran is ranked No. 510. Cheapchandej boasts 13 ITF singles titles but has never reached above No. 356 in the WTA rankings.

Eala also wants to bounce back from her recent loss in Singapore, where Tatiana Prozorova rallied to win a three-hour battle 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, knocking out the third seed early.

Asian Games Gold and Olympic Qualification

The stakes go beyond medals for Eala this week. The International Tennis Federation offers the winners of the Asian Games singles events a direct ITF Place for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, if they meet certain criteria. These include being ranked inside the world’s Top 500 and coming from countries that haven’t filled their four-player singles quota through direct qualification. At No. 18, Eala fits comfortably within these rules.

The 2026 Asian Games will be the first chance to secure ITF Places for LA 2028. This partly explains why Eala chose Nagoya over playing at the China Open, a mandatory WTA 1000 event. The Philippine Tennis Association asked the WTA for an exemption on her behalf to avoid penalties, which could include a $10,000 fine and zero ranking points if denied.

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

She already knows what it feels like to stand on the Asian Games podium, having won bronze medals in women's singles and mixed doubles at the 2023 Hangzhou edition.

Now, Eala arrives as the No. 1 seed and a real contender for gold. Winning here would not only upgrade her previous medal but could also pave her way to the Olympics in 2028.

Summary of Key Match Details

  • Event: 2026 Asian Games Women's Singles Round of 16
  • Date: Monday, September 28, 2026
  • Opponent: Patcharin Cheapchandej (Thailand)
  • Venue: Centre Court, Higashiyama Park Tennis Center, Nagoya
  • Start Time: After 9 a.m. Philippine time, following two preceding matches
  • Broadcast: One Sports, One Sports+, Cignal Play, Pilipinas Live, RPTV, One Sports YouTube channel
  • WTA Rankings: Eala No. 18, Cheapchandej No. 510

Related Articles