Alexandra Eala became the first player from the Philippines to break into the WTA top 50 in January 2026. As of May 2026, she was ranked No. 38 in the world, the highest ever for a Filipino female tennis player [1, 2, 3, 4]. Eala turned 21 on May 23, the day before the Roland Garros tournament began on May 24, where she competed alongside Janice Tjen [1, 2, 3, 4].

Janice Tjen entered the top 40 in February 2026, reaching No. 41 by May. She became the highest-ranked Indonesian woman since Yayuk Basuki in the late 1990s [1, 2, 5, 3, 4]. Tjen turned 24 in early May, shortly before Roland Garros began [1, 2, 3, 4].

Eala and Tjen are nicknamed the "SEASters" due to their shared Southeast Asian heritage and doubles partnership. Although the Philippines and Indonesia are over 1,500 kilometers apart, separated by a maritime border, the pair have developed a close connection on tour [1, 2, 5, 3, 4].

Eala has drawn strong support from the large Filipino expatriate community, with American player Amanda Anisimova praising her for having an "incredible fan base" and creating an "amazing" atmosphere at matches [1, 2, 3, 4]. Eala said she noticed the growing fan presence early this season: "People were really coming, they were buying tickets, they were taking time out of their day. It was like, wow." She acknowledged the importance of balancing fan expectations with her own well-being, telling reporters, "My first obligation is to myself... I try to find the healthiest way to deal with all of this... It's all about balance." [1]

Tjen said she focuses on work ethic and national pride rather than pressure: "I know that as long as I keep working hard and giving my best, I always have Indonesia behind me. That's something I'm proud of." [1]

Eala said she feels a cultural bond with other Southeast Asian women players: "South-east Asia has its own little charm... We have certain humour that's very similar... There's definitely that shared sense of pride for my region." Two other Thai women, Lanlana Tararudee and Mananchaya Sawangkaew, are also near the WTA top 100 as of May 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4].

In April, Janice Tjen represented Indonesia in the Billie Jean King Cup match in Delhi, underscoring her rising profile in regional tennis [1, 2, 3, 4].

Both players will compete in the 2026 Roland Garros tournament starting on May 24 where they hope to build on their career breakthroughs.