Is Alexandra Eala The Favourite For The Title? WTA Singapore Open Draw Preview & Predictions

<p>Alexandra Eala is the No. 3 seed at the 2026 SINGAPORE TENNIS OPEN and she has been handed one of the friendliest draws of her career. Full draw preview, section-by-section breakdown and predictions for the WTA 500 in Singapore, September 21-27.</p><p><br></p><p>Eala arrives at World No. 18 off the season that transformed her career — the FIRST WTA SINGLES TITLE ever won by a player from the Philippines at the DC Open in Washington, where she beat Qinwen Zheng, Leylah Fernandez, Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka and world No. 3 Jessica Pegula in a single week, followed by a round of 16 in Toronto and a third round at the US Open as the highest-seeded Filipina in Grand Slam history.</p><p><br></p><p>And the draw has been kind. Seeded third, she receives a FIRST-ROUND BYE into the second round, where she will meet either Sofia Costoulas or Tatiana Prozorova — both ranked more than 130 places below her. From there the projected path is Olympic silver medallist Donna Vekic in the quarterfinals, two-time Grand Slam finalist Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals, and top seed and reigning ROLAND-GARROS CHAMPION Mirra Andreeva in the final.</p><p><br></p><p>So is she the favourite? On paper, no — Andreeva and Anisimova are both ranked above her. But this is a 28-player WTA 500 field, Eala has the softer opening, and on current form she has beaten more top-20 players this summer than almost anyone in the draw. I break down exactly where the danger sits.</p><p><br></p><p>Also in the draw: No. 4 seed Elise Mertens, No. 5 Maja Chwalinska, wild card and No. 6 seed Leylah Fernandez, No. 7 Maria Sakkari and No. 8 Donna Vekic — with the tournament newly upgraded to WTA 500 status and moved from February to September, opening real ranking points for everyone in the Asian swing.</p><p><br></p><p>🎾 IN THIS VIDEO</p><p>- Full section-by-section draw breakdown</p><p>- Eala&#39;s realistic path to a second WTA title</p><p>- Where the genuine danger is in her half</p><p>- Predictions through to the final</p><p><br></p><p>📊 TOURNAMENT INFO</p><p>Event: 2026 Singapore Tennis Open presented by BNP Paribas (WTA 500)</p><p>Dates: September 21-27, 2026</p><p>Draw: 28 players, singles</p><p>Surface: Hard</p><p>Seeds: 1 Mirra Andreeva · 2 Amanda Anisimova · 3 Alexandra Eala · 4 Elise Mertens · 5 Maja Chwalinska · 6 Leylah Fernandez (WC) · 7 Maria Sakkari · 8 Donna Vekic</p><p>Eala&#39;s opener: second round vs Sofia Costoulas or Tatiana Prozorova</p><p><br></p><p>💬 Can Alex win a second