Eala opens up about fame and pressure: "My first obligation is to myself"

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Alexandra Eala is becoming increasingly established within the WTA circuit. The Filipina, one of the biggest breakthroughs of the past year, continues to take steps forward in a progression that seems to have no limits. Just fourteen months have passed since that historic semifinal in Miami, where she defeated three Grand Slam champions to introduce herself to a wider audience. 

At almost 21 years old, she is facing her first full clay-court swing. In recent months, she has debuted in all four Grand Slams, won a WTA 125 title in Guadalajara, reached her best ranking (number 29 in the world), and is becoming a growing social phenomenon in the Philippines. In an extensive interview with The National, the left-hander talked about pressure, fame, the emotional ups and downs of tennis, and how she tries to stay grounded.

Eala explains how she tries to stay grounded

"It seems like the season has just started, but here we are in May. Time flies by quickly, and so many things have happened. I've already had quite a few ups and downs. I learned from last year that when you suffer a tough loss or go through a difficult moment, it's not as bad as it seems. And when you achieve a big victory, it's not as incredible as it appears."

Adapting to the elite

"I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to play big matches, win some important encounters, and perform well in tournaments. But the level of my opponents has significantly risen, and that is truly challenging. This year, I've improved a lot physically, and I'm trying to reach a point where I can leverage that physical condition. I believe clay courts are the best place to do that."

A phenomenon in the Philippines

"I want to give back all the support they give me, but my first obligation is to myself. This is my journey. I am extremely grateful that all these people want to accompany me on this ride, but my primary commitment is to myself, my family, and my team. I have to give my all for them, and then everything else will follow.

I try to find the healthiest way to deal with all of this, because I feel like many things could go wrong, but at the same time, it's all about balance. It's significant when I want it to be, but at the end of the day, I can do what I love. I've come a long way, and I'm very proud of myself."

Her beginnings in tennis

"During the first ten years of my career, I trained on a court that was half a basketball court. And now, I've played on the Wimbledon Center Court, which was my ultimate dream, aside from winning Wimbledon someday. So, I feel very grateful," she concluded. 

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Eala se sincera sobre la fama y la presión: “Mi primera obligación es conmigo misma”