Eala and her connection with the Philippines: "I have not seen that shared sense of pride in other places and that makes us special"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 19 Mar 2026 | 22.00

Eala and her connection with the Philippines: "I have not seen that feeling of shared pride in many other places and is something that makes us special." Photo: Gettyimages

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Alexandra Eala is one of the most recognized figures in the Philippines. The 20-year-old tennis player, who made a name for herself at last year's Miami Open and has started off 2026 with a victory, has experienced a true change in her professional and personal life, partly due to the great support she receives from her Filipino compatriots.

This was confirmed by the player herself in an interview with The Times, where she discussed various aspects of her rapid rise. From her gratitude to the Filipino people, evident at most of the tournaments she competes in, to how she has handled fame in a country with no tennis tradition, becoming one of the most famous individuals there.

Alexandra Eala and the bond with her Filipino compatriots

"It's wonderful and I'm very grateful. I'm happy that Filipinos have the opportunity to know tennis. Ultimately, it's a way for us to come together and show pride in our culture. We are very proud of our roots. I haven't seen that shared pride in many other communities, so I think that's what makes us special."

Still not used to being famous

"Especially early this year, things got more intense. It was a bit surprising, to be honest, because it's hard to see yourself as 'famous' when you've always been just yourself. But once you get past that, you learn to really enjoy it because the atmosphere is very different when the stadium is full."

"It's strange because being at home is the most normal thing in the world, right? But being famous at home, walking the streets or going to the restaurants I've been to since I was a child, and suddenly people ask me for photos, so it's something you have to get used to."