Alex Eala meets tennis legend Billie Jean King

Alex Eala poses for a photo with tennis legend Billie Jean King. -ALEX EALA FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines — She may have missed out on the US Open 2024 main draw, but Alex Eala had an unforgettable moment during the US Open week meeting her sports hero and tennis legend Billie Jean King.

Eala on Sunday shared her moment with King, a tennis pioneer and 39-time Grand Slam champion whose name the US Open home in Flushing Meadows in New York is named after.

The 19-year-old Filipino had a photo opportunity with the 80-year-old icon and received a letter after participating in a session hosted by the tennis legend.

READ: Alex Eala stays positive after missing US Open main draw

“Thank you for participating in Billie Jean King Power Hour and sharing your excitement about being a part of the WTA. We look forward to seeing you achieve your full potential,” wrote King and the Women’s Tennis Association Player Development team.

The main draw remained elusive for Eala after bowing out in the final round of the US Open qualifiers, losing to Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania in three sets, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, on Friday.

Eala, the World No.148, relished the atmosphere during the US Open and she vowed to take her setback as an inspiration towards earning her first Grand Slam main draw appearance as a pro someday. 

READ: For Alex Eala, a special kind of Grand Slam

Eala is still the first Filipino to win a Grand Slam title in the singles division, ruling the US Open girls’ tournament two years ago. She won two in doubles in the 2020 Australian Open and 2021 French Open in the juniors division.

She has five International Tennis Federation single crowns and three in the doubles.