Alex Eala opens up on visa challenges with Philippine passport
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines reacts after winning a point against Jessica Pegula in a women’s singles semifinal on day ten of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis star Alex Eala admitted that holding a Philippine passport presents challenges when applying for visas to compete in international tournaments.
Eala, who has been based in Mallorca, Spain since joining the Rafa Nadal Academy, shared that securing travel documents for visa requirements, especially for last-minute tennis tournaments, is part of her struggles as a Filipino athlete. The Philippine passport ranks 75th in travel freedom as of January, according to the Henley Passport Index.
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“What’s challenging is being able to travel flexibly, with flexibility. I find challenging the visas, being able to plan because as a tennis player, you need to be very flexible with your schedule, you’re going to make a lot of last-minute choices. And it doesn’t allow you time to organize all of this every single time to have the visas ready,” said Eala in a virtual press conference on Tuesday.
But beyond the travel hurdles, Eala said the best part of being a Filipino athlete is the unwavering support of her fellow countrymen—something she felt during her breakthrough run at the Miami Open, especially in her semifinal match against Jessica Pegula, where Filipinos streamed her games live.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines waves to fans from her player’s chair after her match against Jessica Pegula of the United States in a women’s singles semifinal on day ten of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
“The flip side, the best thing about being a Filipino athlete, of course, is the support and the Pinoys. Because you cannot find that kind of community anywhere else, in my opinion. And the love and the support, you know, this past month is a testament to that,” she said.
The 19-year-old Filipino has been proudly representing the country, even using her native tongue during her speech in her 2022 US Open girls championship run.
READ: Alex Eala not shortchanging her Grand Slam chances
She was also heard using motivational Filipino phrases while talking to herself during breaks in her matches at the Miami Open, where she made a historic run and impressed Filipino and international fans alike.
“It’s important. I think not just at this point in my career—it’s been there since the beginning,” she said. “It doesn’t always happen verbally. Sometimes, it’s just in my head. And I think it happens to everybody, not just athletes. You need a pep talk, and you need to remind yourself what’s important when those moments come.”
Now World No. 73 in the WTA rankings after her stellar showing in Miami, Eala remains committed to growing the sport in the Philippines by continuing to make the country proud.
“I love tennis. I think tennis is a beautiful sport,” she said. “So to see more and more Filipinos picking up rackets and getting their kids into tennis—it’s really such a sight for sore eyes. Especially growing up, tennis was very scarce.”
“I like to think that I have this impact,” she added. “And especially now, after the win I had in Miami, more people are starting to look into tennis and learning to love the sport as well.”
The Filipino prodigy is gearing up for the clay season, starting with the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal next week. She is also set to make her Grand Slam main draw debut at the French Open in May.
