Singaporean tennis player Eva Desvignes is preparing to compete again at the Singapore Tennis Open (STO), set to take place later this month at The Kallang’s OCBC Arena. After making her tournament debut in 2025 as an unranked wildcard entrant, Desvignes returns in 2026 ranked 872nd in the world, once again receiving a wildcard to enter the qualifying rounds.
Last year, Desvignes faced China’s Wei Sijia in the first round of qualifiers, falling 6-1, 6-2. Despite the loss, the experience of competing in front of a home crowd was significant for the 18-year-old. “It was nerve-racking but also really exciting. A lot of people came to watch, so that’s not something that I usually have when I play matches,” she said. This year, Desvignes feels more prepared and confident due to increased experience in professional tournaments.
The STO has risen in prestige as well, upgrading from a WTA 250 event last year to a WTA 500 competition for 2026, attracting a more competitive international field. Among the top-ranked entrants are Alexandra Eala of the Philippines (No. 18), Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva (No. 5), Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova (No. 11), and defending STO champion Elise Mertens (No. 19). Desvignes acknowledges the elevated level of play and the pressures of the bigger stage but remains eager to learn from competing alongside such top professionals.
Singapore national coach Daniel Heryanto emphasized the value of the opportunity for Desvignes despite the ranking gap. “She wants to be a pro, so playing in a bigger tournament like this, we give her opportunity to experience it. She’s good enough to compete with those players,” he said. Heryanto highlighted that consistent participation on the pro tour has contributed to the player’s development, though he noted the tournament draw will play a role in her progress.
In addition to the STO, Desvignes will be part of Singapore’s team at the Singapore Tennis Invitational Cup (STIC), scheduled from September 23 to 26 at the Kallang Tennis Hub. Singapore won the team event last year, and Desvignes is aiming to help the nation defend its title. “Last year, we managed to win it, so hopefully this year we can defend our title and win it again, that would be nice,” she said.
The Singapore squad consists of eight members, with the men’s team undergoing a complete refresh from last year. All four male players are making their STIC debuts. Notably absent is Bill Chan, Singapore’s pioneering male junior Grand Slam competitor, who is currently studying at Harvard University. Fellow 19-year-old Jaden Tan, who competed in the 2026 Davis Cup, expressed both excitement and determination about representing Singapore at the STIC. “Being selected for the STIC means a lot to me, and it is an honour to represent Singapore... There is definitely a little bit of pressure, knowing that we won the title last year, but as long as we keep our focus on becoming better, prioritising progress instead of perfection, I’m sure we will be able to defend this title,” Tan said.