One of the biggest stars on the WTA Tour, Filipino Alexandra Eala will return to the ASB Classic in January, bringing her thrilling game and a passionate global following back to Auckland.<\/p>\n
Eala was ranked #53 in the world when she competed in Auckland this year, electrifying the fans as she progressed to the semifinals.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 21-year-old will return for the 2027 ASB Classic now ranked inside the world\u2019s top 20 players.<\/p>\n
On the court, she earned her first WTA Tour singles title this year and off the court, Eala has become one of the sport\u2019s most recognisable players, with more than 2 million followers on Instagram and nearly 900,000 on Tik Tok.<\/p>\n
Eala\u2019s appeal extends far beyond her results. One of the WTA Tour\u2019s biggest crowd-pullers, she attracts passionate support wherever she plays, with Filipino fans turning out in force around the world. Her matches have become must-see occasions, bringing an energy and atmosphere that promise to make her return to Auckland one of the highlights of the summer.<\/p>\n
ASB Classic Tournament Director, Nicolas Lamperin is thrilled that Eala will return.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlex is not just an exciting young player, but she has already developed into one of the most recognisable players in world tennis,\u201d said Lamperin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are excited Alex has chosen to come back to play in Auckland. We have watched her progress with interest, and we know all tennis fans, especially her fervent fans from the Filipino community in Auckland, will be excited to see her in action again.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlex has a wonderful all-court game and she is a bubbly personality both on and off the court.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eala is delighted to return to Auckland, where her stunning 2026 season began.<\/p>\n
\u201cI loved my time in Auckland. Of course, the support there was amazing, especially from the Filipino community,\u201d said Eala.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people there were super-nice. The city was super-nice. I was there during New Year so it was a great experience for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eala has enjoyed a 40 win-22 loss season that includes WTA tournament titles in Washington DC and in Birmingham along with semifinals in Auckland and Berlin. She also made three quarterfinals, the fourth round at Wimbledon and the third round at the US Open.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt meant so much to win my first WTA title in Washington,\u201d said Eala. \u201cI dreamed of it for so long and to be living in that moment was an unforgettable experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
At 13 years, Eala was accepted into the prestigious Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, where her talents have been nurtured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Born in Quezon City near Manilla, Eala won her first ITF title in Mallorca in 2021. She made her first breakthrough on the WTA Tour at the Miami Open in 2025 when she reached the semifinals after defeating the then world #2 Iga \u015awiatek.<\/p>\n
This year she has jumped inside the world\u2019s top 20 with major scalps that include five players inside the world\u2019s top 10 comprising world #1 Elena Rybakina, world #4 Jessica Pegula, world #5 and two-time ASB Classic champion Coco Gauff at Indian Wells, ASB Classic defending champion and world #6 Elina Svitolina, and world #9 \u015awiatek.<\/p>\n
The ASB Classic is New Zealand\u2019s premier international tennis tournament featuring both WTA 250 and ATP 250 events, attracting leading players to Auckland each January.<\/p>\n
Running from 4-16 January 2027, the tournament, supported by Tataki Auckland Unlimited, is a highlight of the Auckland summer, combining world-class professional tennis with a relaxed, vibrant atmosphere, great food and hospitality, and plenty for fans to enjoy both on and off court.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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