NEW YORK - Philippines sensation Alexandra Eala said she cannot wait to experience the “really fun environment” of the Asian Games after a battling defeat in the third round of the US Open.

The rising 21-year-old will be favourite to win women’s singles gold when the Games begin in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Sept 19.

At the previous edition of the Games, in 2023 in Hangzhou, China, Eala went home with bronze medals in singles and mixed doubles.

Much has changed for Eala since. Last month, she became the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA singles crown and has reached a career-high world No. 18 ranking.

Her ground-breaking exploits have made her a superstar back home.

“I love playing and competing with the Philippines team,” Eala said after her agonising three-set loss to United States teenager Iva Jovic in New York on Sept 5.

Proud Filipina Eala has been a regular at the SEA Games, winning singles gold last year, and she added: “I think it’s a really fun environment, and I love being with the team, especially this last SEA Games in December, I had such a great time.

“I think they are really memories that stick with me.”

China’s Zheng Qinwen won Asian Games singles gold three years ago on home turf but will not defend her title.

Japan’s four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who like Olympic champion Zheng will be in action at the WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing,...