: Alex Eala of the Philippines returns a shot during day two of the Miami open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 19, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Carmen Mandato / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Alex Eala’s coming of age is definitely a whiff of the freshest air that this politically-divided country can actually breathe, as the 19-year-old is now the newest sporting heroine that the Philippines can root for as one nation.
After chopping down two world-ranked and seasoned players in the Miami Open, Eala earned a free ticket into the quarterfinals when her final 16 foe, Paula Badosa of Spain, on Tuesday withdrew because of a bad back.
READ: Alex Eala: Philippines’ smash hit on path toward tennis stardom
The Filipino was set to face the biggest test of her young pro career in Iga Swiatek early Wednesday morning, a time when this nation split by political turmoil will be praying and rooting for what could be the biggest upset in women’s tennis in the most recent times.
“I think this is a good step towards where I want to be,” Eala had said in a previous interview as she now includes in her list of victims former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and Australian Open winner Madison Keys of the United States.
“I think every single player here has envisioned themself as a successful tennis player,” Eala had said. “This is the goal, to do well on the WTA tour and the end goal is to win slams, to get the rankings.”
Pure joy
The youth and inexperience in claiming higher-rated players have shown after each victory, with Eala breaking down right at center court and coming up with speeches thanking her family first and her team.
One can sense pure joy and the love she gives to all the people who have supported her, guided her in this dog-eat-dog journey on the world tennis road.
READ: Alex Eala stuns Keys, becomes 1st Filipina to beat top-10 player
The Filipino tennis prodigy is the daughter of Mike Eala and ex-national swimming team star, the former Rizza Maniego, who won a 1985 Southeast Asian Games bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke.
The absence of a legitimate international tennis star from the Philippines certainly made it harder for Eala to find someone to emulate.
And she has so far blazed the trail well for the next Filipino, as she also has a US Junior Girls title to show, and five ITF singles titles and three doubles while making several Grand Slam appearances since turning pro.
“Growing up, it was tough,” an emotional Eala said. “You didn’t have anyone from where you’re from to pave the way. Of course, you had many people to look up to around the world, but I think—I hope this takes Filipino tennis to the next step.”