Roel Basio

Alex Eala Set for Extended Break Before North American Hard-Court Swing

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala is set to take more than two weeks off from competition following her impressive Wimbledon campaign as she gears up for the second half of the 2026 season.

The 21-year-old will use the break to recover physically and mentally before returning to the WTA Tour at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, D.C., USA, which begins on July 27.

Aside from taking a well-earned rest, Eala and her team will also shift their focus to preparations for the upcoming North American hard-court season. The stretch includes several key tournaments leading into the year’s final Grand Slam, the US Open, which gets underway in September.

Eala heads into the hard-court campaign with renewed confidence after a breakthrough grass-court season highlighted by a historic run to the fourth round at Wimbledon—her best Grand Slam result to date. The extended break is expected to give the Filipina ample time to recover, refine her game, and build momentum for another strong showing on hard courts.

With the US Open fast approaching, all eyes will be on Eala as she resumes her 2026 campaign in Washington and looks to carry her impressive form into the remainder of the season.

PATTY BAU BINIRA ANG MGA MAGULANG NA SUPORTER NI DUTERTE DAHIL SA EPEKTO NITO SA MORALIDAD NG MGA BATA

Muling naging sentro ng mainit na talakayan sa lipunan ang ugnayan ng politika at pagpapalaki ng anak matapos maglabas ng matalim na pahayag ang komentaristang si Patty Bau nitong Hunyo 24, 2026. Tahasang kinuwestyon ni Bau ang moral na pundasyon na itinuturo ng mga magulang na patuloy na sumusuporta kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa kabila ng mga kontrobersiyang kinasangkutan nito.

Ayon kay Bau, nagkakaroon ng malaking kalituhan ang mga bata sa pag-unawa ng tama at mali kapag nakikita nilang ipinagtatanggol o ikinatutuwa ng kanilang sariling mga magulang ang mga lider na nauugnay sa isyu ng karahasan, tulad ng pagpatay at r*pe. Binigyang-diin niya na hindi magiging epektibo ang paggabay sa tamang asal kung may pinipiling "exemption" ang pamilya base lamang sa kanilang idolong politiko.

"Anak, masama yan, pero pag si Tatay, tama yan!" ang naging talinghaga ni Bau upang ipakita ang tila dobleng pamantayan o double standard sa loob ng ilang tahanan ngayon. Ang kaniyang pahayag ay mabilis na umani ng samu't saring reaksyon sa social media, kung saan marami ang sumang-ayon sa usapin ng child ethics habang binatikos naman siya ng mga tapat na tagasuporta ng pamilyang Duterte.

UP TO TEN SENATORS FACING OMBUDSMAN PROBE

EARLIER THIS WEEK: Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla on Tuesday, May 26, confirmed that approximately 9 to 10 senators are currently under investigation by his office, with at least three to four more set to face charges beyond Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Senator Joel Villanueva, and Senator Rodante Marcoleta—who have all been publicly identified as facing plunder and related charges.

"Meron pa kaming mga pinag-aaralan na mabibigat na kaso. Hindi kasi madaling maglatag ng kaso, tandaan niyo 'yan. 'Pagka ang kalaban mo maraming pera tapos may kapangyarihan at matagal na nandiyan, hindi madali," Remulla said.

Remulla also rejected insinuations that the Ombudsman is singling out senators from any particular political bloc, saying his mandate covers everyone regardless of political affiliation: "Ang trabaho ng Ombudsman, lahat. Wala kaming atrasan. Kahit sino pa."

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World No. 45 Alex Eala found herself on the losing end in the battle of Pinay lefties, yielding to No. 25 Leylah Fernandez at the WTA 500 Stuttgart Open first round, 1-6, 4-6, in Germany Wednesday in Manila.

It marked Fernandez’s first match on red clay this season, and the Filipina-Canadian wasted no time asserting control.

Both players came in with attacking mindsets, but it was Fernandez who dictated early.

She consistently pressured Eala’s second serve, wrong-footing the Filipina while mixing in variety—including a well-executed drop shot winner—to surge to a commanding 4-0 lead in the opening set.

Fernandez’s sharp angles and ability to change direction kept Eala on the defensive, as she extended her advantage to 5-0.

Despite strong crowd support rallying behind Eala, the Filipina managed to get on the scoreboard late, but Fernandez comfortably sealed the first set, 6-1.

Eala showed signs of a fightback in the second set.

She opened with renewed aggression, firing an ace and two clean winners to take her first lead of the match at 1-0.

The 20-year-old continued to hold her ground, producing another solid service game—including an ace—to stay within striking distance at 3-2.

But Fernandez kept the ball striking and angles going to get the double break and lead 5-2.

Eala broke to close to 5-3. She saved 2 match points at 15-40, and pulled closer at 4-5.

Fernandez closed out at match point #3 to win 6-1, 6-4.

Fernandez, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 13 in August 2022, improved her win-loss record this season to 4-9.

Report by : Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN