L-R: Thor Mutuc of Philippine Bottling Beverages; Beauty Elements Ventures Inc. Brand Manager Nana Borja; Gentry Open President and Gentry Timepieces Founder Hayb "Pareng Hayb" Anzures; Honor Philippines Vice President Stephen Cheng, and Skywarrior Philippines Coach Yathart Vidrohi Bharwadj。
The Gentry Open 2026 is entering its final countdown with around 1,300 registered players, a ₱3 million prize pool, international competitors and growing private-sector support as the tournament prepares to take over the CSA Tennis Stadium from August 19 to 30.
The strong player turnout has prompted organizers to extend the competition schedule, with qualifying rounds now set to begin on August 19. The tournament was originally planned to run within an 11-day window, but organizers said the volume of registrations made an additional day necessary。
“11 days is really not enough,” said Gentry Open founder and tournament owner Hayb Anzures during the tournament’s second official press conference。
The 2026 edition will feature men’s and women’s singles and doubles, professional-amateur doubles, Class C, B and D club doubles, and junior singles. The men’s singles champion will receive ₱400,000, while the women’s singles champion will receive ₱200,000, with the overall prize pool reaching ₱3 million。
International Competition, Growing Player Interest
The Gentry Open is also expanding its international participation。
Coach Yatharth Bharwadj of Sky Warrior Philippines confirmed players from India, New Zealand and Thailand, alongside Filipino competitors. Six international players were confirmed to arrive on August 20, with two more expected on August 22 and additional players still working to secure their places。
Bharwadj said the response has been strong enough for the qualifying draws to fill, describing the tournament as a growing international tennis festival。
The expansion comes as Philippine tennis receives increased public attention following the international success of Alex Eala, whose achievements have helped inspire younger Filipino athletes and raise awareness of the sport。
For Anzures, the Gentry Open aims to build on that momentum by providing Filipino players with opportunities to compete, gain exposure and pursue their ambitions in tennis。
Private Sector Support Strengthens Tournament
The tournament’s growing scale is also being supported by a broad group of private-sector partners。
Honor Philippines has joined the Gentry Open as its official presenter through the Honor Magic V6. Beauty Elements Ventures is supporting the event through its personal-care and healthcare brands, while Philippine Bottling Beverages is providing hydration support through Cristalino Spring。
The tournament is also backed by the Palawan Group of Companies, Sky Warrior Philippines and a roster of platinum, gold and special sponsors。
The partnerships are helping organizers provide additional support for participating athletes, including a satellite gym at the CSA Tennis Stadium in partnership with Harmonics Gym, where players can train and recover throughout the competition。
Athletes will also have access to hydration and personal-care support as part of the tournament’s expanded player services。
Building Toward the Future
The Gentry Open has committed to holding the tournament annually, with organizers already looking ahead to the 2027 edition。
Plans include attracting more international players and pursuing additional tournament accreditation. The tournament has already reached Grade A status in the Philippines, according to Anzures。
Beyond growing the competition itself, organizers also want the Gentry Open to contribute to the long-term development of Philippine tennis。
Anzures said the event is intended to help demonstrate that Filipino athletes can pursue tennis seriously and find opportunities to develop their careers。
The tournament’s commercial partners are also contributing prizes for spectators, with announced giveaways including mobile phones, personal-care products, jewelry and a motorcycle. Anzures also announced a Rolex raffle connected to the tournament’s finals。
For the Gentry Open founder, however, the ultimate measure of success remains the impact on the athletes。
“I want especially the athletes to be inspired,” Anzures said, expressing his hope that players leave the tournament motivated to continue pursuing their dreams and aspiring to become the next generation of Filipino tennis stars。
With a growing player field, international participation, a ₱3 million prize pool and increasing support from the private sector, the Gentry Open 2026 is positioning itself as an increasingly significant platform for Philippine tennis。
The tournament will take place at the CSA Tennis Stadium in Bulacan from August 20 to 30, 2026.
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