Photos from Alex Eala & Leylah Fernandez instagrams accounts
Filipina tennis player Alexandra Eala and Canadian standout Leylah Annie Fernandez, who traces her heritage to the Philippines through her mother, are among the players drawing attention at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in California.
INDIAN WELLS, California — Two players with Filipino ties are among those attracting interest this week at the BNP Paribas Open, one of the most prominent tournaments on the Women’s Tennis Association calendar.
Filipina rising star Alexandra Eala and Canadian player Leylah Annie Fernandez, whose mother is of Filipino heritage, are competing at the tournament held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Southern California.
Eala carries Philippine representation
Eala, 20, continues to build momentum on the professional circuit after a steady rise on the WTA Tour. She has reached a career-high ranking inside the top 40, marking the highest position achieved by a Filipino player in the WTA singles rankings.
Seeded in the Indian Wells draw, Eala received a first-round bye, allowing her to begin play in the second round against a field that includes many of the world’s top players.
Her presence at the tournament has drawn attention from Filipino fans following her progress on the international stage.
Fernandez returns with doubles spotlight
Fernandez, who gained global recognition during her run to the 2021 U.S. Open singles final, remains a consistent competitor on the WTA Tour.
At Indian Wells, she is also competing in doubles, where she reunites with Venus Williams. The two previously partnered at the US Open, reaching the women’s doubles quarterfinals in 2025.
Williams, a former world No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, received a wild-card entry into the tournament’s singles and doubles draws.
Filipino presence on tennis’ global stage
The BNP Paribas Open, often described as the largest tennis tournament outside the four Grand Slams, forms part of the sport’s early-season “Sunshine Double,” followed by the Miami Open.
For Filipino tennis fans, the tournament offers a rare moment of representation at one of the sport’s premier events, with Eala competing under the Philippine flag and Fernandez highlighting Filipino heritage through her family background.
As play unfolds in the California desert, both athletes are expected to draw interest from fans tracking the growing presence of Filipino talent in international tennis.
