(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Alexandra Eala Credits Grandfather for Tennis Journey and Hard Court Success
Filipina tennis star Alexandra Eala has revealed that her grandfather played a key role in shaping her career path, encouraging her to pursue tennis as a way to secure a scholarship at American colleges. He also emphasized training on hard courts, believing it would be the gateway to competing internationally beyond the Philippines.
Eala, who turned 20 in May, captured global attention earlier this year when she made a dream run at the Miami Open WTA 1000 as a wildcard. Over 10 days in South Florida, she stunned the tennis world by defeating three Grand Slam champions—Iga Swiatek, Madison Keys, and Jelena Ostapenko—along with Australian Open semifinalist Paula Badosa, before reaching the semifinals.
Even before her Miami breakthrough, Eala was regarded as a rising star. She won the 2022 US Open girls’ singles title and completed her training at the Rafael Nadal Academy in 2023.
“My Grandfather Saw the Bigger Picture”
In an interview with Town & Country magazine, Eala shared how her grandfather’s vision shaped her path:
“My grandfather was thinking about the bigger picture. He knew there were no shell courts outside of the Philippines, so if we wanted to compete abroad, we had to learn on hard courts.”
She also credited his tough coaching style for building her resilience:
“He was one of those tough love coaches—but that’s a big part of my mental strength and how I carry myself on court now. It all goes back to the foundation of how I was brought up.”
Making History for the Philippines
Eala’s Miami run not only propelled her into the WTA top 100 but also made her the first Filipina woman to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal. Currently ranked world No. 70, she continues to climb the tennis ladder.
Looking ahead, Eala says she is taking things “week by week,” but her ultimate dream is to one day become the world No.1.
