Eala safe and sound in Spain

When Rafael Nadal issued a statement to parents of his students at his academy, the 19-time major winner assured them that “a great team of people are taking care of their health.”One of those concerned parents is Mike Eala, father of Filipino tennis star Alex and her older brother Miko.

Mike said his children were allowed to walk around the confines of the Rafael Nadal Academy (RNA) since the campus is off-limits to visitors and outsiders since March 17.

Alex is at Grade 8, while Miko is Grade 10 at the academy, which caters to students from some 42 countries around the world.

Nadal singled out Alex for her strong showing in international competitions. She reached No. 9 in the world in juniors last month after winning the Australian Open girls doubles title.

Her coaches were planning more pro circuit tournaments for her while still competing in junior grand slams this year.

But it all took a backseat.

Though Spain is one of the hardest-hit countries by the COVID-19 pandemic, RNA is located in Mallorca, where the tennis superstar was born and raised.

Nadal issued a statement that the kids are well taken care of by using measures given by sports and health authorities in Spain.

“Their quarantine laws don’t allow them to play tennis,” Mike Eala told the Inquirer. “But they continue to do fitness training.” INQ