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| (Image Source: Manila Bulletin/Palawan Group Of Companies) |
Philippine tennis continues its upward surge as the Palawan Open 2026 officially kicked off and promises to be one of the most competitive and record-setting editions of the championship in recent years. Featuring an international cast and a ₱2M (2 million pesos) prize pool, the tournament is expected to deliver high-level action at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center until May 31, 2026. Headlining the stacked field is India’s Digvijay Pratap Singh who reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 485 and is determined to assert his dominance against a formidable local contingent led by some of the country’s top players including multi-titled AJ Lim and Eric Jed Olivarez.
Asian Games veteran and former junior Grand Slam campaigner Casey Alcantara also joins a formidable local cast set to test their mettle against a strong international field in the landmark tournament designed not only to crown champions but also to elevate the level of Philippine tennis by giving homegrown talents rare exposure to world-class competition. With a growing pool of Filipino players eager to break through on the international stage, the week-long championship aims to provide local aces and rising stars the kind of high-level environment – one where they can measure themselves against seasoned foreign campaigners while gaining valuable experience in pressure-packed matches. Joining Lim, Olivarez and Alcantara are John Benedict Aguilar, Nilo Ledama, Vicente Anasta, Arthur Pantino, John Kendrick Bona and Ronard Joven, along with Jarell Edangga, Lance Fernandez, Noel Salupado and Loucas Fernandez, all hoping to make the most of the rare opportunity to compete in what organizers describe as the biggest Open tournament staged in the country in many years. The tournament also builds on the momentum generated by the successful inaugural Philippine Women’s Open earlier this year which drew significant attention following the participation of rising global sensation Alex Eala in her first local tournament appearance after her breakthrough performances on the world stage. The men’s singles champion will earn ₱300,000 with the runner-up receiving ₱150,000 and the losing semifinalists taking home ₱100,000 each. The women’s singles titlist, meanwhile, will pocket ₱100,000. Accommodating the overwhelming number of entries was a three-day qualifying tournament organized by Palawan Group of Companies held last May 21-23, 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center where more than 300 hopefuls competed for coveted spots in the main draw.
Presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Gentry and Bagong Pilipinas, the blue-ribbon event is supported and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association (PhilTA) and Universal Tennis Rating (UTR). Backing the event are Dunlop as the official ball, Franchise One Hotel (official hotel), Queens at Bollywood Restaurant (official restaurant), Darlings Fine Jewels, Victoria Linen and Palawan Group of Companies. More importantly, organizers see the tournament as the foundation of a long-term program aimed at rebuilding Philippine tennis from the grassroots to the elite level. “This tournament is more than just a competition – it is an investment in the future of Philippine tennis. We want to give Filipino players consistent opportunities to compete at a high level here at home, expose them to international-caliber matches and inspire the next generation of champions,” said Palawan Group Founder and Chairman Bobby Castro. Castro added that the annual staging of the event reflects their continuing commitment to discovering and developing future stars, stating, “Our goal is to institutionalize the tournament and help create a sustainable pathway for young Filipino talents. By bringing major competitions to different parts of the country, we hope to strengthen not only the sport but also local communities and tourism.” Hayb Anzures of Gentry Timepieces expressed strong support for the collaboration, stating, “We were very lucky to have Palawan and Sir Bobby with us in organizing the event, and we are truly grateful for that partnership. We’ve achieved a lot in 2025, and I believe we are now even more aligned with Palawan in our goal of bringing the recognition that the tennis community truly deserves.” On the other hand, Palawan Group Chief Marketing Officer Bernard V. Kaibigan stressed that the initiative goes beyond a single event and represents a long-term movement for Philippine sports development, stating, “Together, we are not just staging a tournament. We are building a movement; one that will discover and nurture the next generation of athletes who will one day carry our flag with pride on global tennis courts. I, for one, a sports enthusiast and a firm believer in Filipino talent, am so excited for the lives that this initiative is bound to change.”
Under the Palawan Group’s Sports and Development program led by Bobby Mangunay, the Palawan Open tournament will become a yearly fixture rotating across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, giving various cities and provinces the rare opportunity to host a premier tennis spectacle while energizing local sports development programs. The Palawan Pawnshop Tennis Tournaments played a role in the development of athletes such as Alex Eala, highlighting how global champions can emerge from local programs when given proper opportunity, structure, and encouragement.
