Alex Eala shares her hopes for the future of women’s tennis after some worrying financial news.
Alex Eala is definitely one of the most popular names in women’s tennis right now, and maybe even one of the most unique, even though she hasn’t won a Grand Slam yet.
At just 21 years old, she’s had an amazing 2026, quickly climbing the WTA rankings to reach No. 18 just before the US Open.
As the Filipina star gets ready for the Singapore Open, she shared her thoughts about the future of women’s tennis, despite some recent worrying news about its finances.
The Telegraph recently reported that women’s tennis could run out of money next year if losses keep going at the same pace. The report says the sport might only have around $15 million (£11 million) left by the end of this year.
One reason for this tough spot could be how hard it’s been to market top female players or the low amount of money being brought in.
But there’s hope because Alex Eala is very popular with fans worldwide, which could help women’s tennis get the attention it needs.
Eala spoke with ABS-CBN News after arriving in Singapore for her last WTA event before the Asian Games. She said, “I’m really thankful to everyone who came before me. Every woman who has played tennis has helped the sport grow by just loving what they do and working hard. I hope I can do the same and leave tennis better than I found it.”
With the financial pressure, the WTA is making changes. One big move is shifting the WTA Finals to Indian Wells this year, and from 2027 to 2029, the event will be in Charlotte. This move helps the WTA financially since the state is giving over $14 million to support the tournament.
However, tennis expert Jose Morgado shared some concerns about the new schedule on X (formerly Twitter). He explained that the tournament will be shorter—five days instead of eight—because of the NBA schedule at the Spectrum Center. This means players might have to play up to four singles matches a day, which makes it really tough for top players to compete in both singles and doubles.
He also mentioned that the WTA will move its operations to Charlotte, creating a central base for the organization. Charlotte was chosen over Sacramento, Las Vegas, and Gdansk. This move is part of how the WTA is trying to handle the financial challenges and get ready for changes in 2026.