Eala, on the media attention she receives: "It is tough and sometimes it weighs heavily"
The young Filipino tennis player revealed her expectations for the tournaments in Cincinnati and the US Open, talking about the pressure she feels from her country.
Alexandra Eala seeks a definitive breakthrough at the WTA 1000 Cincinnati 2026 taking advantage of the positive momentum from her title in Washington and her strong performance in Toronto. At 21 years old, the Filipino is finding herself having to manage things that require great maturity, and she reflected on this during Media Day at the tournament in Ohio.
It feels like her big moment has arrived. Alexandra Eala is playing better than ever and, more importantly, is able to maintain a very good version of herself over several matches in a row, something she had not achieved before. The title in Washington has given a huge boost of confidence to the young Filipino, who is focused on isolating herself from all the media noise surrounding her that could influence her career.
Alexandra Eala and her most notable confessions at WTA Cincinnati 2026
The impact of Eala's success in the Philippines
"As I am always traveling and on the circuit, sometimes I am quite disconnected from what my impact is back home. For better or for worse. That's why when I returned home, it truly opened my eyes."
"Of course, I hear about it and see it on social media, but I think experiencing it firsthand and interacting with the people who support me was different."
"I’ve heard a couple of phrases from them, and it’s enough to know a bit about their stories, how tennis has impacted their lives or how being Filipino and the pride they feel has affected them personally."
"I think it’s incredible how much inspiration can affect other people. It’s one of the things I learned and understood when I went back home."
The comparison between Alexandra Eala and Manny Pacquiao
Eala's growth has prompted comparisons to Manny Pacquiao, one of the greatest sports figures in the history of the Philippines. The tennis player acknowledged that it is a special comparison, although she wanted to emphasize the differences between their paths.
"Pacquiao is a sports legend for us. He has done a lot for our athletes and I think he paved the way."
"When I watched his fights at home, it never crossed my mind that one day I would be compared to him."
"I think the feeling that Pacquiao transmitted to Filipinos was great because they had someone to rally behind. When he had fights, everyone was excited, and it was an opportunity for people to come together."
"I suppose my journey has some similarities and could evoke something similar. It’s very flattering to be compared to him, but at the same time, they are two unique and very different paths."
"I think I am still very, very far from Pacquiao's level, but I believe both stories are beautiful and have their own characteristics."
Sky-high confidence ahead of the US Open
"The momentum exists. It’s something real, I suppose, but it’s not something concrete and it doesn’t give you answers one hundred percent. Momentum can help. Many matches can help you with confidence, but it doesn’t guarantee anything."
"I think it’s simply about the level at which I play. Of course, the more matches, the better, but they have to be important matches."
"Did I execute what I wanted to execute? Did I show the level I wanted to show? If I lose in the first round, but it’s a really good match, I wouldn’t say it was a very successful week, but it wasn’t bad either."
Eala acknowledges the weight of fame
"There are moments when it weighs heavily and moments when it's fun. In the end, I am also aware that it is an incredible experience, so I try to absorb it all. I know I wouldn’t be living these experiences if I hadn’t done all the prior work, so I know I won’t be able to continue living them if I don’t keep doing that work."
"It has helped me a lot to develop as a person and to see things from a different perspective. It has allowed me to mature a lot and taught me many lessons, but it has also given me a lot of joy."
It will be interesting to see how Alexandra Eala manages the coming weeks, being aware that she will be in the global media spotlight for her triumphant precocity and being one of the fittest tennis players of the moment. This WTA 1000 Cincinnati 2026 could be a crucial and definitive tune-up for the US Open 2026.
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