Barring any hitches, the country may host the maiden WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open in Manila early next year. Hopefully it happens. It brings the sport closer to the country of basketball and lately, volleyball. Closer, but not user friendly.
Tennis is a pricey sport. Dominic Thiem, thought to be the next big thing after he won the US Open attests. The Austrian resents the prize money may appear exponential, but the tax cuts almost half the amount in and out of his country. But at least he know where his taxes go in his country. Although this country knows too, it does not mind.
Exciting, it gives Alex Eala the platform to showcase her game right in her turf and home crowd. Although she feels at home anywhere she goes with Filipinos loudly cheering her on. Not because they follow the Filipina ace, but because they are already at the place, forced to leave their country for a better life elsewhere.
Top ten players are not expected to play though. It is a low-tier level tournament. Travel advisory of some countries do not speak highly of the archipelago. Conversely, Alex Eala is reported to have some difficulty entering in some countries to play because of her entry card, otherwise known as the Philippine passport.
The prize money is lower expected of a struggling country. Among many others, it struggles against corruption and how it impoverishes the nation. It is not poor, it is just plundered.
Even if the paycheck is lucrative, many top players demand appearance money, their mere presence will popularize the tournament and spark viewership and sponsorship. Unless it is the Six Kings Slam organized by a middle east country with combined prize money and participation fee bigger than a grand slam. An exhibition event, it does not even count points for ranking, but it sure does account for money.
But really, the Philippine Open could revolutionize tennis landscape in the country. Literally and figuratively. It might reverse the alarming trend of outdoor tennis courts converted to real estate. Where there is a basketball court and a billiards table in every street and corner, tennis courts are disappearing, although much slower than public funds stolen.