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Manila to Host Inaugural WTA 125 Tournament as Philippine Women’s Open Debuts in January 2026
Manila will host the inaugural WTA 125 tournament, with the Philippine Women’s Open set for January 2026.
Manila will make tennis history in January 2026 when it hosts the Philippine Women’s Open, the country’s first-ever WTA tournament. The WTA 125 event will take place from January 26-31, 2026, featuring a 32-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles field with a total prize purse of $115,000. This marks a significant step forward for professional tennis in the Philippines.
The tournament will be played on hard courts at a venue in Manila that is yet to be announced. The event gives Filipino tennis star Alex Eala a chance to compete at a professional WTA tournament in front of home fans. The Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Tennis Association are working together to organize the event.
This development reflects the growing presence of tennis in Southeast Asia and could open new opportunities for local players. The tournament will provide Filipino athletes with the opportunity to gain experience competing at an international level while bringing world-class tennis to Manila for the first time.
Overview of Manila Hosting the Inaugural WTA 125 Tournament
Manila will host its first Women’s Tennis Association event in January 2026, marking a historic moment for Philippine tennis. The Philippine Women’s Open will run from January 26-31, 2026, featuring a $115,000 prize pool and competition on hard courts.
Significance for Philippine Tennis
The tournament represents the first time the WTA Tour has included Manila in its official calendar. This milestone gives Filipino tennis players the opportunity to compete at an international professional level on home soil.
The event will feature a 32-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles draw. Filipino star Alex Eala will have the chance to play in front of home fans at a professional WTA event. The tournament provides local players with valuable ranking points and prize money without requiring international travel.
The WTA 125 level sits just below the main WTA Tour events. Players can earn significant ranking points at this level, making it an important competition for professionals working to climb the tennis rankings.
WTA Calendar Inclusion
The Women’s Tennis Association officially added the Philippine Women’s Open to its 2026 calendar as a WTA 125 tournament. The event received approval after the Philippines demonstrated it could meet the required standards for hosting professional women’s tennis.
The tournament will take place at hard court facilities in Manila. The WTA requires a minimum of three premium courts for tournaments at the 125 level. The Philippines satisfied these technical requirements to secure the event.
Major Stakeholders and Organizers
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) led the negotiations to bring the tournament to Manila. These two organizations worked together to submit the bid and coordinate with WTA officials.
The PSC provides government support and resources for major sporting events in the Philippines. Philta serves as the national governing body for tennis in the country. The partnership between these organizations enabled the WTA to meet its standards for hosting a professional tournament.
Event Dates and Duration
The tournament takes place from January 26-31, 2026. This six-day event marks the first time Manila has hosted a WTA tournament.
The competition will be played on hard courts. The WTA 125 designation places this tournament in the second tier of professional women’s tennis events.
32-Player Singles Draw
The singles competition features a 32-player draw. This draw size allows for five rounds of matches before crowning a champion.
Players competing in the tournament will battle for ranking points and prize money. The 32-player format provides opportunities for both established players and rising stars to compete.
Doubles Competition Details
The doubles portion of the tournament includes 16 teams. These pairs will compete alongside the singles matches throughout the week.
Doubles teams have the chance to earn their share of the prize money. The doubles draw follows the same WTA 125 tournament structure as singles competition.
Prize Money Commitment
The tournament offers a total prize commitment of $115,000. This purse gets distributed among singles and doubles competitors based on their performance.
Players earn money at each round they reach in the competition. The winner receives the largest portion of the prize pool.
WTA 125 tournaments serve as important events for players looking to improve their rankings. The prize money helps support professional tennis players as they compete on the tour.
Venue and Facilities
The Philippine Women’s Open will take place at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, featuring hard court surfaces. Organizers are working to upgrade the facility to meet WTA standards, while a future Philippine Tennis Center in New Clark City is also under consideration for related tennis development.
Rizal Memorial Sports Complex
The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex will serve as the primary venue for the WTA 125 tournament in January 2026. The facility’s tennis center requires upgrades to meet the strict requirements set by the Women’s Tennis Association for hosting international competitions.
The venue must provide at least three courts to accommodate the tournament’s 32-player singles draw and 16-team doubles field. The complex offers the infrastructure needed for a professional tennis event, though renovations are necessary to bring it up to WTA specifications.
The location in Manila makes the venue accessible for local fans and international visitors. The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex has a history of hosting major sporting events in the Philippines.
Upgrades and Renovations
The Philippine Sports Commission is managing the renovation of the tennis center at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Work began in preparation for the January 26-31, 2026 tournament dates to ensure the facility meets all WTA requirements.
The upgrades focus on bringing the courts and supporting facilities to international standards. The Philippine Tennis Association is working with the Philippine Sports Commission to complete the necessary improvements before the tournament begins.
The renovations include updates to court surfaces, player facilities, and spectator areas. The timeline is tight, with construction underway to complete all modifications before the event starts.
Planned Philippine Tennis Center in New Clark City
The Philippine Tennis Center in New Clark City represents a long-term venue option for future tennis events in the Philippines. This facility is in the planning stages and could host major tournaments once completed.
New Clark City offers modern sports infrastructure and has already hosted other major athletic competitions. The planned tennis center would provide purpose-built facilities designed specifically for professional tennis events.
While the 2026 Philippine Women’s Open will take place at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the New Clark City venue could serve as an alternative location for future WTA tournaments. The development of this facility shows the country’s commitment to growing professional tennis.
Impact on Filipino Players and Talent Development
The tournament will create direct playing opportunities for Filipino tennis players while raising the sport’s profile across the Philippines. Local athletes will gain valuable experience competing against higher-ranked international players on home soil.
Opportunities for Local Athletes
Filipino tennis players will receive direct entry opportunities into a WTA-sanctioned tournament without traveling abroad. The tournament structure typically includes qualifying rounds and main draw wildcards, which tournament organizers often award to local players. This gives athletes ranked outside the top 200 a chance to compete against professionals they would typically only face by traveling internationally.
Alex Eala, currently the Philippines’ top-ranked player, represents the most immediate beneficiary of this development. She could compete in front of Filipino fans for the first time at this level of professional tennis. Other emerging Filipino players will gain access to WTA-level competition and the ranking points that come with match wins.
The tournament also provides practice and training opportunities. Local players can practice with visiting professionals and learn from their coaches and training methods.
International Exposure for Philippine Tennis
The WTA 125 tournament brings international media coverage and streaming broadcasts to Philippine tennis. This visibility helps attract sponsorship deals for Filipino players and increases funding for tennis development programs across the country.
The event at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex puts Philippine tennis infrastructure on display to the global tennis community. It demonstrates the country’s capacity to host professional tournaments and potentially attract future events. Young Filipino athletes will see professional tennis played live, which typically increases participation in junior tennis programs.
The Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Tennis Association are using this event as part of broader development plans. These include opening courts to the public and building the Philippine Tennis Center in New Clark City.
Broader Implications for International Tennis in the Philippines
Integration into the Global WTA Tour
The addition of Manila to the WTA Tour calendar represents the Philippines’ formal entry into the international tennis circuit. The tournament operates as a WTA 125 event, which sits just below the main tour level and serves as a pathway for rising players to earn ranking points and prize money.
This integration connects Filipino tennis fans directly to the professional women’s tennis system. Players competing in Manila will earn official WTA ranking points, making the event part of the same competitive structure as Grand Slams and premier tournaments worldwide.
The $115,000 prize commitment aligns with standard WTA 125 specifications. The tournament will feature 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams competing on hard courts. These specifications match the format used across other WTA 125 events, ensuring consistency with international tennis standards.
Potential for Larger Future Events
Hosting a successful WTA 125 tournament could position the Philippines for higher-tier international tennis events. The WTA Tour structure includes multiple levels above the 125 category, including WTA 250, 500, and 1000 events, each offering increased prize money and ranking points.
The January 26-31, 2026 dates provide a testing ground for the country’s ability to manage professional tennis operations. Success in organizing this inaugural event demonstrates the capacity for larger tournaments that attract top-ranked players.
Manila’s infrastructure for hosting international competitions will be evaluated through this first tournament. Strong attendance, smooth operations, and positive player feedback could influence decisions to expand the Philippines’ role on the global tennis calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the dates for the Philippine Women’s Open set for January 2026?
The WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open is scheduled for January 26-31, 2026. This six-day tournament represents the first time Manila will host an official Women’s Tennis Association event.
The dates were selected to fit into the WTA’s 2026 calendar. Officials from the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Tennis Association coordinated with WTA organizers to secure this slot.
How can tickets be purchased for the WTA 125 tournament in Manila?
Ticket information has not been released yet. The organizers have not announced pricing or sales channels for the tournament.
Updates about ticket sales will likely come from the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Tennis Association. Fans should monitor official announcements from these organizations as the event date approaches.
What is the player line-up for the WTA 125 tournament in Manila?
The player line-up has not been announced. WTA 125 tournaments typically attract players ranked between 50 and 250 in the world rankings.
Players register for tournaments closer to the event date based on their schedules and ranking points needs. The field will be finalized in the weeks leading up to the January 2026 tournament.
Will there be international players participating in the Philippine Women’s Open?
International players are expected to participate in the tournament. WTA 125 events draw competitors from around the world seeking ranking points and prize money.
The tournament will also provide an opportunity for Filipino tennis star Alex Eala to compete in front of home fans. Players from various countries typically enter these tournaments as part of their professional tour schedules.
What are the venue details for the WTA 125 tournament in Manila?
The specific venue for the tournament has not been confirmed publicly. Manila has several tennis facilities that could host the event.
Organizers will need to ensure the chosen venue meets WTA standards for court surfaces, seating, and facilities. The venue announcement will come from the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Tennis Association.
Are there any special events or programs associated with the Manila WTA 125 tournament?
No special events or programs have been announced yet. Tournament organizers may add community activities or fan engagement programs as planning progresses.
The Philippine Sports Commission has mentioned exploring opportunities to open courts to the public as part of broader tennis development initiatives. Details about any tournament-related programming will be shared closer to the event date.
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Manila to Host Inaugural WTA 125 Tournament as Philippine Women’s Open Debuts in January 2026
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