Asian Games: Alex Eala learns path to Gold medal glory as 2028 Olympics prize looms large

Richie Mills 25 Sep 2026 3:19 PM

Pictured: Alex Eala at the Singapore Open

Alex Eala has learned her Asian Games draw

Alex Eala has discovered her path to the Gold medal match at the upcoming Asian Games.

The 21-year-old did not get the ideal preparation for the Aichi-Nagoya-based competition, which runs from 27 September to 3 October, after losing to world No 180 Tatiana Prozorova in her opening match at the Singapore Open on Thursday.

Eala suffered a 6-4, 5-7, 3-6 defeat in a match that lasted more than three hours, looking rusty in what was her first match back on the WTA Tour after losing to Iva Jovic in the third round at the US Open on 6 September.

Following the defeat, she said, “I think Tatiana [Prozorova] played really well today. But yeah, first I think I have to, like every loss, accept the fact that maybe she performed better today, and then take the time to analyse, take the time to learn.

“I fought; I did everything I could on the court, but I think with my team it’s just going to be… We didn’t perform how we wanted, because of A, B, and C, and then get back on court and work on A, B, and C. Try to do better for the next match.”

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Now, the left-hander will prepare for the Asian Games, where she is the top seed. On Friday, the draw was announced, with Eala, who receives a first-round bye, potentially facing world No 510 Patcharin Cheapchandej in the second round.

Taiwanese star Joanne Garland could await in the quarter-finals, while world No 84 Xiyu Wang may be waiting for her in the last four.

If the two top seeds make it to the final, Eala will face off against world No 55 Shuai Zhang, with the winner guaranteeing themselves a spot in the women’s singles event at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Women’s singles draw for the 2026 Asian Games

(credit: 2026 Asian Games)

Alex Eala’s possible path to the final

Second round: Patcharin Cheapchandej (Thailand)
Quarter-final: Joanne Garland (Taiwan)
Semi-final: Xiyu Wang (China)
Final: Shuai Zhang (China)

On paper, this is a relatively easy draw for Eala. However, her loss in Singapore highlights that any player can cause an upset on their day.

She is by far and away the highest-ranked player in the competition, with only Eala, Zhang, third seed Yuliya Putintseva, fifth seed Mananchaya Sawangkaew, and fourth seed Wang in the world’s top 100.

World No 18 Eala is the only top 50 player.