PH to host WTA 250 tournament next year

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) announced that the country will host two World Tennis Association (WTA) events next year with the addition of a WTA 250 event. Following a successful and first-ever Philippine Women’s Open (WTA 125) held last January, the Philippines is qualified to host a higher-tier event starting next year. "We're happy to announce and confirm that late last night we threshed out some details with our franchise holder of WTA 250. We're going to have WTA 250 next year, 2027, late October, early November," Philta secretary general John ReyTiangco said. "To clarify, we won't be replacing the 125. We will still have the WTA 125 in January," said Tiangco. The WTA 125 Women’s Open will still be held in the second week of January while the WTA 250 will be held in the last week of October or the first week of November. The WTA officially approved Manila's hosting application last week, bouyed by the phenomenal international breakout run of Alex Eala, whose matches have continuously drawn packed crowds across the tour this year.