5 Filipina Tennis Players To Watch For In The First-Ever Philippine Women's Open

World Tennis Association top-50 player Alex Eala is hitting her home court at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center for the first-ever(!) Philippine Women's Open from January 26 to 31, marking her first major local appearance this year. Known for her fierce groundstrokes and composure under pressure, Alex is already the name everyone's talking about—but she's not the only one to watch.

Several rising Filipina tennis players are set to make their mark in the tournament, bringing fresh talent and exciting matchups that promise to make this year's Philippine Women's Open (PWO) one to remember.

Tenielle Madis, the woman ranked No. 2 behind Alex in the Philippines, will be competing in the PWO. She received a wildcard into the singles main draw, making her one of the top bets in the competition. 

Although she put up a strong start in her first match in the PWO, she was eliminated from the singles bracket after losing to Mananchaya Sawangkaew from Thailand (6-4, 6-0). However, she remains in the competition as part of the doubles main draw alongside partner Stefi Aludo.

"I'm so very grateful for the wild card. It's a great opportunity to compete at this higher level and gain valuable experience. So I see it as an invitation to do better, to do my best," Tennielle said. 

The 18-year-old native of M'lang, Cotabato has rapidly ascended the domestic and junior rankings to become one of the top-ranked local players. During the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand in 2025, Tennielle secured two bronze medals in the women's doubles and team events. 

The future is bright for the young player. Recently, reports have said that she's set to attend University of Hawaii to do two things: study and train further in tennis. 

Kaye Ann Emana's tennis legacy emerged as she represented the University of Santo Tomas in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. She was named Rookie of the Year in UAAP Season 86, then went on to earn the UAAP Season 87 Most Valuable Player (MVP) award the following year.

Now, crowds can't wait to cheer for her as she competes at the PWO. She will face Tatiana Prozorova of Russia, who reached a career-high WTA ranking of No. 140. 

Another rising player from the collegiate ranks is set to open the stage at the PWO. Elizabeth Abarquez of National University is competing in the singles main draw as a wildcard. Elizabeth was a key player for NU’s women’s tennis team in the UAAP. Season 86 where the university secured a three-peat championship.

Recently in the PWO, Elizabeth faced Mai Hontama from Japan, who reached a career-high WTA ranking of No. 105. While she suffered a loss, she noted that this opportunity to be part of a big competition is a great experience for her tennis career.

While she's one of the youngest tennis players in the Philippines at just 17, Stefi Marithe Aludo is already showing that she can chase the same milestones achieved by her seniors.

Stefi reached a career-high International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Ranking of No. 449 in 2025, a position earned through her strong showings in Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Her highlights last year include reaching the final of the J60 Makati City tournament and the semifinals of the PHILTA J30 Junior Tennis Championships in Manila. She also earned a bronze in the women's doubles last year at SEA Games, together with her partner Tennielle.

Stefi also made her debut in the Billie Jean King Cup in June 2025 during the Asia/Oceania Group II round robin, gaining valuable experience in a high-pressure team competition.

Yes, Mica Emana, Kaye Ann's sister, is also making waves in tennis! Despite being a rookie at UST, she was named Most Valuable Player at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Finals after winning the championship-clinching match in Game 3. In a three-set battle, she defeated NU’s Danna Abad 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, ending UST's seven-season title drought.

Alex is leading the pack, and these rising Filipina players are already making their mark. Fierce rallies, surprise upsets, and moments that'll put the spotlight on local talent—it might be just the first PWO, but you already don't want to miss it.