Is Alexandra Eala The Favourite For The Title? WTA Singapore Open Draw Preview & Predictions

Alexandra Eala is the No. 3 seed at the 2026 SINGAPORE TENNIS OPEN and she has been handed one of the friendliest draws of her career. Full draw preview, section-by-section breakdown and predictions for the WTA 500 in Singapore, September 21-27.

Eala arrives at World No. 18 off the season that transformed her career — the FIRST WTA SINGLES TITLE ever won by a player from the Philippines at the DC Open in Washington, where she beat Qinwen Zheng, Leylah Fernandez, Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka and world No. 3 Jessica Pegula in a single week, followed by a round of 16 in Toronto and a third round at the US Open as the highest-seeded Filipina in Grand Slam history.

And the draw has been kind. Seeded third, she receives a FIRST-ROUND BYE into the second round, where she will meet either Sofia Costoulas or Tatiana Prozorova — both ranked more than 130 places below her. From there the projected path is Olympic silver medallist Donna Vekic in the quarterfinals, two-time Grand Slam finalist Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals, and top seed and reigning ROLAND-GARROS CHAMPION Mirra Andreeva in the final.

So is she the favourite? On paper, no — Andreeva and Anisimova are both ranked above her. But this is a 28-player WTA 500 field, Eala has the softer opening, and on current form she has beaten more top-20 players this summer than almost anyone in the draw. I break down exactly where the danger sits.

Also in the draw: No. 4 seed Elise Mertens, No. 5 Maja Chwalinska, wild card and No. 6 seed Leylah Fernandez, No. 7 Maria Sakkari and No. 8 Donna Vekic — with the tournament newly upgraded to WTA 500 status and moved from February to September, opening real ranking points for everyone in the Asian swing.

🎾 IN THIS VIDEO

- Full section-by-section draw breakdown

- Eala's realistic path to a second WTA title

- Where the genuine danger is in her half

- Predictions through to the final

📊 TOURNAMENT INFO

Event: 2026 Singapore Tennis Open presented by BNP Paribas (WTA 500)

Dates: September 21-27, 2026

Draw: 28 players, singles

Surface: Hard

Seeds: 1 Mirra Andreeva · 2 Amanda Anisimova · 3 Alexandra Eala · 4 Elise Mertens · 5 Maja Chwalinska · 6 Leylah Fernandez (WC) · 7 Maria Sakkari · 8 Donna Vekic

Eala's opener: second round vs Sofia Costoulas or Tatiana Prozorova

💬 Can Alex win a second title? Predictions in the comments.

👍 Like if you're following the Asian swing with us

🔔 SUBSCRIBE for daily Singapore Open coverage

- Mantis 10%: https://mantissport.com/qualityshot10 (At Checkout)

- IM8 10% OFF: https://im8.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=26&aff_id=2077 (Code QST10 at Checkout)

- Acemate: https://www.acematetennis.com?sca_ref=11586466.udoQ3GLV6m55xoG1&utm_source=uppromote&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=standard-affiliate-commission&utm_content=affiliate-QualityShot-Tennis

---

Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use and no copyright infringement is intended. No match footage is shown in these videos.

⚠️ Independent tennis analysis and commentary. Predictions are opinion only and not betting advice. Not affiliated with the WTA or the Singapore Tennis Open.

#AlexEala #WTA #Tennis