Southeast Asian stars join elite WTA field as Singapore tournament upgrades to WTA 500 status.

Southeast Asian tennis will have two home-region contenders on one of the WTA Tour’s bigger stages this September. Indonesia’s Janice Tjen and the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala have secured direct entry into the 2026 Singapore Tennis Open, joining a field packed with some of the world’s leading women’s players.

Tjen and Eala Earn Direct Entry
Tjen and Eala are currently the only two Southeast Asian players among the 19 direct entrants in the Singapore Tennis Open singles main draw, based on the August 24 ranking cutoff. Tjen represents Indonesia while Eala represents the Philippines, giving Southeast Asian fans two regional players to follow when main-draw competition begins on September 21. At the August 24 entry cutoff, Tjen was ranked No. 35 and Eala No. 18.

Singapore Open Upgraded to WTA 500
The Singapore Tennis Open will run from September 21 to 27, 2026, on indoor hard courts at the OCBC Arena. After returning to the WTA Tour as a WTA 250 tournament in 2025, the competition has been upgraded to WTA 500 status, making it Southeast Asia’s only tournament at that level. The singles competition features a 28-player draw, comprising 19 direct entrants, four wild cards, four qualifiers and one special exemption.

World’s Leading Players Head to Singapore
The field is led by several of women’s tennis’ biggest names, including Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva and Amanda Anisimova, all ranked inside the WTA top 10 at the entry cutoff. Other notable entrants include Diana Shnaider, Sorana Cirstea, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Elise Mertens, Maria Sakkari and Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova, giving Tjen and Eala the opportunity to compete against an exceptionally strong field close to home.

Janice Tjen Continues Indonesia’s Tennis Rise
Tjen’s direct qualification represents another milestone in her rapid progression through professional tennis. The 24-year-old became the first Indonesian woman to enter the WTA top 100 since Angelique Widjaja in 2004, after beginning her rise from outside the rankings following her graduation from Pepperdine University in 2024. Her recent results have since pushed her to around the world’s top 35, establishing her as Indonesia’s leading women’s singles player.

Singapore Becomes Regional Tennis Showcase
Eala arrives as another major Southeast Asian attraction, having climbed into the world’s top 20 following a breakthrough period that included becoming the first Filipina to reach the WTA top 50. With Tjen and Eala competing directly alongside established international stars, Singapore’s upgraded tournament offers a rare regional stage where Southeast Asian players can challenge the world’s best without traveling to Europe or North America.

Direct entry for Janice Tjen and Alexandra Eala gives the 2026 Singapore Tennis Open a strong Southeast Asian dimension as the tournament begins its new era as a WTA 500 event. For Indonesians, Tjen’s participation represents another major step in the country’s return to prominence in women’s tennis. For Singaporeans, hosting both emerging regional stars and established global players strengthens the city-state’s position as an increasingly important destination on the international sporting calendar.

Sources: EN Tempo (2026) , Batampos (2026)

Keywords: Janice Tjen Singapore, Alexandra Eala Singapore, Singapore Tennis Open 2026, WTA 500 Singapore, Indonesian Tennis, Southeast Asian Tennis