Alex Eala lends star power, offers advice in PH return

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Filipino tennis star Alex Eala tells young players to 'dream big' as she returns to her roots in her homecoming

MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala is back home for a short break before she resumes what has been a historic 2025 campaign.

Eala returned to her roots as she graced the opening of the PHINMA International Junior Tennis Championship in Makati on Monday, July 14.

Now ranked No. 56 in the world, Eala provided young tennis players the lessons she learned along the way to becoming one of the fastest-rising stars in the scene.

“My advice is to dream big and then to take it step by step, not to make things bigger than they need to be but also to pay attention to the little things,” said Eala as per a TV Patrol report.

Eala, 20, is coming off a landmark appearance in Wimbledon, where she became the first Filipino in the Open era to see action in the main draw.

There, Eala gave 2024 champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic a commendable challenge before she fell 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 in the opening round.

Prior to Wimbledon, Eala reached her first WTA final in the Eastbourne Open, where she fell short of the title, suffering a heartbreaking 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (10) loss to Australia’s Maya Joint.

“Once I get onto the court and once I start to swing, I focus on the things I need to focus, strategy-wise, technique-wise, then all the nerves are gone,” Eala said.

Eala also visited her alma mater Colegio San Agustin Makati as she met with school administrators and former teachers.

“Her presence reminded everyone of the heights that hard work and passion can achieve, leaving smiles, selfies, and renewed motivation in her wake,” CSA Makati wrote on its Facebook page.

“Even in just a brief visit, Alex made a lasting impact, turning an ordinary day into an unforgettable one.”

From the grass court, Eala will turn her attention to the hard court as she gears up for the US Open, which is the fourth and last Grand Slam of the year.

By breaching the top 100 rankings, Eala has gained automatic entry to all four Grand Slams.

The US Open, where Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus is the defending champion, will run from August 24 to September 7 in New York. – Rappler.com