Alex Eala to begin Asian Games run vs. Thailand's Patcharin Cheapchandej

Alexandra 'Alex' Eala will kick off her Asian Games redemption tour against a familiar foe in Thailand's Patcharin Cheapchandej as they battle it out in the Round of 16.

While Eala earned a first-round bye as the top seed in the women's singles draw, the 31-year-old Cheapchandej had to battle Pakistan's Mahin Aftab Qureshi in the Round of 32 to book her spot in the next round.

The Thai bet made quick work of Qureshi after pulling off a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory that lasted for just 53 minutes in Court 6 at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Japan.

Cheapchandej is not exactly a new foe for Eala, with the two having previously met at the ITF W25 Chiang Rai in 2022 at the Chiang Rai Sports Center in Thailand.

Eala prevailed in their Round of 16 clash, 6-3, 6-4, before beating her next three opponents—including another Thai star in Luksika Kumkhum in the final—to claim the title.

Meanwhile, another Filipina has bowed out of contention with Tennielle Madis losing to Japanese Himeno Sakatsume, 6-1, 6-0, in the first round earlier today.