At just 20 years old, Alex Eala has already made a significant mark in tennis, representing the Philippines on the international stage since her junior circuit debut eight years ago.
Her victory in the junior girls’ singles at the 2022 US Open proved that the second-generation athlete has the potential to excel at the professional level and beyond.
Eala later captured a WTA 125 title and achieved a career-high No. 50 in the WTA rankings by the end of the season, defeating former Grand Slam champions Jeļena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Świątek in a single sweep at the Miami Open earlier this year.
With such inspiring accomplishments on hard courts, clay, and grass alike, it was fitting that Eala, daughter of Southeast Asian Games medalist Rizza Maniego, carried the Philippine flag during this year’s Games’ opening ceremony at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
(C) POC Media
Carrying the flag also meant carrying the hopes of Filipino fans, who have long awaited a gold medal in women’s singles tennis — a feat not achieved in nearly three decades, 26 years to be exact.
Eala rose to the occasion, supported by the entire Philippine tennis contingent, and claimed the elusive gold with a dominant 6–1, 6–2 victory over hometown favorite Mananchaya Sawangkaew on Thursday.
“For me, this is the start of the next season. To end the year on this high was such an amazing thing; no one thought this would happen at the start of the year,” said the Rafael Nadal Academy scholar.
Despite her growing list of achievements, Eala believes nothing compares to representing the Philippines and winning for her country.
“Whoa, I think this is just another category. I think playing with the country written on your back and this sort of team event just brings a different kind of pressure. So, I’m so happy with how I handled it and my everyday performance on the court,” she shared.
When Lupang Hinirang echoed through the center court of the National Tennis Development Center in Muang Thong Thani, Eala’s emotions were overwhelming.
“I think ‘yan talaga sa‘kin — when they played Lupang Hinirang, the national anthem. Matagal ko nang pinapangarap ‘yon na ako ‘yung makakapagdala nung gano’ng pride sa Pilipinas. So, I’m so proud and I’m so humbled to be able to represent the country,” she exclaimed.
