The Philippines is having a great time in sports this past decade. (Who can forget the much-needed high that the Olympic wins of Hidilyn Diaz, Carlos Yulo, and EJ Obiena lifted Filipinos' spirits? Especially during the pandemic?)
Alex Eala, the 17-year-old tennis champion, is the latest addition to the sports roster of national pride. Nothing short of a sensation, Alex just won the Junior Singles Grand Slam Championship title in New York. Find out more about this young athlete and the support system behind her success.
5 Facts About Alex Eala
1. She was born into a sports-minded family.
Alex's mother, Rizza Maniego-Eala, is a national swimmer. She won the bronze medal at the 1985 SEA Games. Her brother, Miko, is also a tennis player at Pennsylvania State University, where he is a junior.
Her uncle, Noli Eala, is the former PBA Commissioner and current Philippine Sports Commission chairman. After Alex's win, the commissioner tweeted, "Tunay na bayani si Alex. Taas noo kahit kanino. Yan ang Pilipino," according to SPIN.ph.
2. She has been competing in international tournaments since she was a child.
Alex has been in the tennis tournament circuit since she was 6 years old. Her first big win was in 2013, when she came out on top in the 10-under category of the Truflex tennis series in Cebu. It didn't take long for her to travel to North America for the Little Mo International tournament; Europe for the Dubrovnik Dud Bowl Championship and Roland Garros Junior French Open; and across Asia to eventually top the Asian Tennis Federation and represent the country in the SEA Games.
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3. She is a scholar at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain.
After Alex's wildcard entry into the 2018 Roland Garros Junior Championship, she accepted a scholarship at the elite Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, where she has been living for the last few years. On the milestone of her Australia Open championship, Rafa Nadal (himself a 20-time Grand Slam title holder) gave the rising tennis star a shoutout on his social media. At the Academy, she is able to train and study with other young tennis players from around the world.
4. Her previous wins have also been historic firsts for the Philippines.
Alex's exciting trajectory is ending a long drought in tennis for the country. She won the Grand Slam Girls Doubles in 2020’s Australia Open and Grand Slam Girls Doubles in 2021's French Open, with the initial victory a first for the Philippines since 1985. Her other titles include Doubles Player of the Year 2017 and Overseas Player of the Year 2018 from Tennis Europe.
5. Her parents have been a solid support system.
Alex's father, Michael, and Rizza can be seen traveling around the world for their kids. They are on the same journey to not only bring pride to the country through sports, but to instill values of sporstmanship and a positive mindset to their children.
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In an interview with Lifestyle Asia, Alex said about her parents, "They guide me not only in tennis but also on how to be a good sportsperson, a good student, and most importantly a good person."
The sacrifice and commitment of Alex's parents are neither a small feat nor an inexpensive one. In 2020, CNN Philippines reported that the PSC had mistakenly taken credit for financially supporting Alex's sports career wins, which amounted to about 4.5 million pesos (at least for that year). Michael and Rizza denied this, saying the PSC had actually only offered to compensate and reimburse Alex after her titles made headlines during the pandemic. In another interview, Michael said, "They can give that financial assistance to other athletes who badly need it."
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