Alexandra Eala is one of the hottest properties in women’s tennis right now, forging a path that will surely revolutionise the sport in her home country.
As such, the 20-year-old has ticked off countless firsts for the Philippines in just the last year alone. The first from her country to beat the best, to play in a Grand Slam main draw, and to reach the final of a WTA event.
She was one tiebreak away from being the first to claim a WTA title too.
The expectation is that, across what promises to be a glittering career, many more triumphs will come her way too, leaving a legacy that will shape Filipino tennis for the better.
And yet, earlier this year, she actually named who her idol was growing up during her breakthrough event in Miami.
Who Alexandra Eala named as her tennis idol
Having come up through the Rafael Nadal Academy, naturally, she has never been shy in voicing her admiration for the legendary Spaniard from whom her teaching came.
She recently stated: “It is hugely inspirational to see him practising almost every day and to see him in the gym. It’s really motivating to see his work ethic, and something that we can all copy from him.
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“Of course, to be within the presence of all this history and especially here in the museum to see it again. I looked up to him as a kid and I saw a lot of similarities. You know, we’re both lefties. I loved how he fought on court. So I try to also channel that when I play tennis.”
And yet, when asked about who she truly idolised when growing up, it was a WTA star who really caught her eye, as she told the Miami Open press back in March after beating Iga Swiatek: “Growing up, my absolute favourite was Maria Sharapova.
“I loved her grit and obviously the way she styled herself and the way she carried herself, very young, and she was someone I really looked up to. Then later on, people like Halep, people like Li Na, Barty, so many people I took inspiration from. So many people.”
What is next for Alexandra Eala?
It has been a meteoric rise for this young Filipino superstar, who has come so far since Eala won the US Open junior tournament in 2022.
Since then, she has really begun making waves on the professional tour, culminating in her run to the Eastbourne Open final in June.
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There, she and Maya Joint played out an enthralling three-set affair, with Eala coming up short.
She spoke about how making history for her home country is always driving her, as motivation that will surely make her a threat for many years to come.
Alas, she was an unfortunate early casualty at the Canadian Open, and so we can expect to see the world number 69 next in Cincinnati.