Alex Eala aims for second WTA 500 title at Singapore Tennis Open

Before she bids to deliver another gold medal for the Philippines, tennis star Alex Eala first begins her Asian swing at the Singapore Tennis Open -- looking to add another WTA 500 title to what has already been a breakthrough season.

Now ranked a career-high world No. 18, Eala enters the tournament as the third seed and has a first-round bye, putting her in a position to make another deep run when the tournament begins Monday at OCBC Arena.

However, it is a far different position from the one Eala found herself in at the start of the year.