Eala: "Nadal tells me a lot about how important it is to surround yourself with good people"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 2 Feb 2026 | 20.00

Eala: "Nadal tells me a lot about how important it is to surround oneself with good people". Photo: Gettyimages

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Alexandra Eala generates passion in the Philippines. The 20-year-old has come from a country with little or no tennis tradition, and that has sparked a tennis fever that gives her an army of fans in any tournament she plays. This was evident in the US Open and the recent Australian Open, and now in the WTA Abu Dhabi, where she started with a victory over Zeynep Sonmez (6-4, 6-3).

After a dream 2025 where she made a name for herself at the Miami Open by reaching the semifinals after defeating Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys, the Filipina faces a more challenging 2026 task: establishing herself in an increasingly competitive circuit. She spoke about the support of her compatriots and her experience training at the academy of Rafa Nadal in an interview with The National.

Alexandra Eala speaks about the excitement her success has caused in the Philippines

"There was a lot of excitement at the Australian Open about the attendance at my match. It was very unexpected for me. I had never seen such a long line for my match, even though I had played on a bigger court, so I don't know how to compare it. But either way, it was a fantastic experience and it shows how much tennis is growing in my country. I think it reflects that and I am very proud of it".

She will have support in Abu Dhabi

"There is a huge Filipino community here in Abu Dhabi, so I am very excited. They have come, and if you look back, there are a lot more people, so I am very excited to play in this tournament".

She easily adapted to fame after her breakthrough in Miami

"Obviously, the streak in Miami was quite sudden, but after that, I took it step by step, and nothing came in a big wave. So I gradually adapted to certain changes that came with being among the top 100, and I think it's a similar story for the start of this season, with the people and exposure I am getting. So I try to go step by step. I try to remind myself that work is work and that all of this would not be possible if I didn't work hard".

About her experience training with Rafa Nadal

"It was crazy. It was the first time I played with him, and I was very nervous, and it was definitely physically demanding. He has been off the court for about a year, and I have been training hard. But it was a fantastic experience to absorb all that knowledge. Just to say that I trained with Rafa is amazing, but I feel very lucky and blessed. Rafa tells me a lot about the importance of surrounding yourself with good people, and I think that is great advice. He has also told me other things about my game, but that is what impressed me the most", says Alexandra Eala as she aims to take another step in her tennis, supported by her compatriots and with the advice of Rafa Nadal.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Eala: "Nadal me dice mucho lo importante que es rodearse de buena gente"