SINGAPORE, 21 September 2026 — Sport met heritage and style on Sunday evening as the world’s tennis elite gathered at Hilton Singapore Orchard for the official Players’ Welcome Party of the Singapore Tennis Open 2026 presented by BNP Paribas.
In true local fashion, visiting WTA stars immersed themselves in Singapore’s rich cultural tapestry ahead of tournament week, donning intricate Peranakan Nonya kebayas courtesy of heritage house The Intan. The vibrant evening set an energetic tone for what promises to be a landmark week for the sport in Southeast Asia.
Following its debut edition in 2025, the tournament has been officially upgraded from a WTA 250 to a WTA 500 event. Serving as the curtain-raiser for the prestigious WTA Asian Swing, the Singapore Tennis Open stands as Southeast Asia’s sole WTA 500-level tournament and one of just 17 globally at this echelon.
Photo: The Kallang
Elevating Singapore’s Sporting Landscape
The elevation reflects Singapore’s ambition to establish itself as a premier global sporting hub, bridging top-tier professional competition with active community participation.
“Tonight marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Singapore Tennis Open,” said Yazed Osman, Co-Tournament Director of Singapore Tennis Open 2026 and Group Head, Events & Placemaking and Place Management, The Kallang Group.
“When we brought the tournament to Singapore last year, our ambition was to establish it as a key fixture on the international tennis calendar. The tournament’s elevation to WTA 500 status this year is an important milestone. Beyond hosting a world-class competition, we have curated interactive fan activities and accessible community experiences across the precinct.”
Photo: SportPlus.sg / Ola Portre
Backing the tournament’s grassroots and community legacy, Daryl Yeo, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Development), Sport Singapore, emphasised the wider developmental impact:
“We are excited to be building an annual festival of tennis around the Singapore Tennis Open. Alongside the WTA 500 and its world-class field, we are staging the WT Asia 12U Team Competition and the Singapore Tennis Invitational Cup. Bringing these competitions together gives our young athletes the opportunity to test themselves against some of the region’s best while gaining valuable exposure to world-class tennis.”
Photo: SportPlus.sg / Ola Portre
Echoing the tourism and destination appeal, Lilian Chee, Director, Sports, Singapore Tourism Board, added: “The WTA 500-level event reinforces Singapore’s reputation as a premier sporting destination. Beyond the on-court action and vibrant fan zone, we hope visiting fans will take the opportunity to explore Singapore and discover the breadth of dining, entertainment and retail experiences the city has to offer.”
Headline Stars Ready to Shine at The Kallang
Leading the charge in the 28-player Singles Draw is top seed and current World No. 5 Mirra Andreeva, who makes her competitive debut on Singapore soil.
“It has been so fun exploring and experiencing the city over the past few days,” Andreeva shared. “It’s always great to come to a tournament for the first time, so I’m excited to meet the fans and ready to get on court to play my best!”
Photo: SportPlus.sg / Ola Portre
For the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala, the tournament represents an emotional homecoming. Having first made her mark in the Lion City as an 11-year-old at the 2016 WTA Future Stars event, Eala returns as the highest-ranked Southeast Asian tennis player in history.
“Playing in Singapore is always special. I have fond memories of competing here when I was younger, and playing in the region I call home makes this tournament even more meaningful,” Eala said. “It has been a year of growth and a lot of learnings on the tour for me, so I am excited to kick off the Asian Swing at The Kallang and soak in all the great energy from the fans!”
Photo: SportPlus.sg / Ola Portre
Empowering Women in Sport: The Kallang Spotlight
Beyond baseline battles, the tournament is serving as a catalyst for deeper industry dialogue. In partnership with The Collective—the global authority on women across sports, entertainment, and media—The Kallang Group is hosting The Kallang Spotlight: Singapore Tennis Open presented by BNP Paribas – Powered by The Collective on 21 September.
The exclusive forum convenes sporting icons, business leaders, and changemakers to deliberate on leadership, inclusion, and the commercial future of women’s sport across the region.
Photo: The Kallang
Tournament Details & How to Catch the Action
With US$1.2 million in prize money on the line across both the Singles (28-player) and Doubles (16-team) draws, main-draw action officially gets underway on Monday, 21 September, from 11:00 AM (SGT) at the OCBC Arena at The Kallang.
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The Fan Experience: The Kallang precinct will host daily interactive fan zones featuring live match screenings, player meet-and-greet sessions, and tennis clinics run by The Kallang’s tennis ambassadors.
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Where to Watch Live: Local fans can tune into full broadcast coverage across StarHub, while selected marquee matches will be streamed live on meWATCH.
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Ticketing: Limited weekday passes and premium hospitality packages at the ACES Club remain available via the tournament’s official ticketing portal.