Alexandra Eala had already decided to compete for the Philippines before arriving in Nagoya for the Asian Games. Between the WTA 1000 event in Beijing and the Asian Games, the world number 18 chose to represent her country. The decision did not result in the gold medal she had hoped for. Eala was defeated in the semifinals by Chinese player Wang Xiyu, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, and had to settle for the bronze medal. On Friday, Wang secured the gold medal by defeating her compatriot Zhang Shuai, 6-2, 6-1 in 66 minutes, earning a valuable Olympic qualification spot. Four players shared the podium: Wang Xiyu of China, Zhang Shuai of China, Alexandra Eala of the Philippines, and Yuliya Putintseva of Kazakhstan. Eala missed out on an opportunity that went beyond the Asian Games: the tournament champion automatically secured a spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic tournament. Despite the disappointment, Eala did not question her decision to compete for her country. "I am really happy to have experienced this, to have felt this support, to have been with the team and to have been able to play again for my country," she said after her defeat. When asked directly about possible regrets, her answer was clear: "No. I have no regrets." The Philippines had a lot to lose by forgoing the Beijing event. The China Open, held from September 30 to October 11, is a WTA 1000 event that brings together almost the entire elite of the women's tennis circuit. The WTA had indicated in early September that Eala and Victoria Mboko were the only two players in the Top 20 absent from the list of participants. Eala's absence at this tournament, considered mandatory by the WTA, could have led to regulatory consequences, including a fine and a penalty to her ranking.