ARTHUR CRAIG PATINO returns to defend his men’s open singles title in the 2026 Gentry National Open Tennis Championships scheduled from August 20 to 30 at the Colegio San Agustin courts in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
A total of 1,300 players from around the world are entered in the weeklong competition presented by Honor Philippines-titles are at stake in the men’s and women’s singles and doubles, as well as junior singles categories.
‘Gentry, the biggest tennis open tournament in the Philippines in its second year, gives every player the hope of being recognized and competing against the best,’ Gentry Open and Gentry Timepieces President Hayb ‘Pareng Hayb’ Anzures told a press conference at the BGC on Saturday.
‘There are many Filipino tennis players not just here in the country but also from the United States who are coming to compete in the event, and there are some players around Asia, like in Singapore, who will also see action,’ Anzures said. ‘This is going to be a low-key competition for Filipinos against the world.’
Patino will have his hands full with the country’s No. 1 AJ Lim, who he beat in the final last year, and reigning women’s titlist Tennielle Madis, both coming back.
With Patino in the press conference were Philippine Bottling Beverages General Manager Thor Mutuc, Skywarrior Philippines Yathart Vidrohi Bharwadj, Honor Philippines Vice President Stephen Cheng, and Beauty Elements Ventures Brand Manager Nana Borja.
Anzures announced that a total of P3 million in cash is at stake, with the men’s singles open winner taking home P400,000-an increase from last year’s P300,000- and the women’s open singles winner getting P200,000-double that of last year’s prize.
He added that they are still finalizing other categories before announcing the junior, inter-school, Class B, and legends divisions.
‘We really want to continue our mission of building the future of Philippine tennis, one match at a time,’ Anzures said. ‘We just want to build a sustainable platform at home to give Filipino tennis players more opportunities to compete and develop and inspire the players who will follow them.’
Patino beat Lim in the final, 2-6, 5-7, 6-4, 3-1 (ret.), while Madis defeated Stefi Aludo, 6-2, 6-0, on the women’s side.