Senator Erwin Tulfo has asked Philippine sports authorities to find a lawful means of shielding Alex Eala from a possible financial penalty, arguing that the tennis player’s choice to wear the national colors deserves official backing rather than a bill she must settle by herself.
Speaking during Monday’s plenary session, Tulfo appealed directly to the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and other relevant bodies to prepare assistance should the world No. 18 be docked a reported $10,000 for pulling out of the China Open. “I believe this is the time for our government to step in… Compared to the honor of having one of our best athletes represent our country, I believe it is a price worth paying for,” the senator said.
At the heart of the matter is a scheduling clash Eala could not resolve without sacrificing one commitment for another. The WTA 1000 event in Beijing overlaps with the tennis competition at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where the singles and doubles draws are set for September 27 through October 3. Because the China Open falls under the WTA’s mandatory category, top-ranked players are generally expected to appear unless they qualify for an exemption.
Tulfo framed the decision as one the 21-year-old should not have been forced to make in isolation. “Hindi natin dapat ilagay si Alex sa sitwasyon na kailangan niyang mamili. Pinili niya po na maglaro para sa Pilipinas sa halip na para sa kanyang professional career,” he said, adding in English, “She should not have to carry that burden alone.”
The figure being cited traces back to the WTA’s rulebook, under which a late withdrawal by a player ranked between 11th and 25th carries a $10,000 charge. Whether that clause actually applies to Eala remains unsettled. According to the analysis outlet Jon to the World, whether the penalty is triggered depends on technical details — when she was entered, when she opted out, and whether the exit meets the association’s definition of a late withdrawal — none of which have been made public. The WTA’s own entry list, that report noted, states only that Eala is absent from Beijing because she adjusted her schedule.
Efforts to spare the athlete any sanction are already underway through the Philippine Tennis Association. PHILTA secretary-general John Tiangco told GMA News that the federation notified the WTA of Eala’s national-team plans and formally requested a waiver. Bong Go has separately thrown his weight behind that petition, joining the push for the tour to grant an exception.
Beyond any monetary hit, missing a mandatory stop can cost a player ranking points, a consequence that could ripple through Eala’s standing depending on results elsewhere on the circuit. Tulfo’s manifestation put the question plainly to his colleagues: “Kung pagmumultahin siya dahil pinili niyang kumatawan sa ating bayan, hindi ba nararapat lamang na magpaabot ng tulong o suporta ang gobyerno sa kanya?”
