Eala reveals the key moment that changed her mindset
The Filipino tennis player had a conversation with her coach that made her realize she could aspire to higher levels within the circuit.
Alexandra Eala has experienced her year of recognition on the WTA circuit in 2026, becoming a true superstar at every tournament she attends, thanks to the unwavering support of the Filipino public. However, her journey has not always been smooth, and she recently revealed a moment during the season that served as a wake-up call where she realized that she truly aspired for more.
It is not that Alexandra was complacent, but for several months she did feel comfortable in the top 40 of the ranking. However, her coach believed she could aim higher, which led to an episode that opened her eyes. During her appearance on Maria Sharapova's 'Pretty Tough' podcast, of which she is a confessed fan, Eala admitted, "In a match I had just before Roland Garros, I went to 3 sets. I don't think I played badly, but my coach was not happy with my performance. We disagreed on that, and it has happened a couple of times."
This disagreement stemmed from her coach believing that Eala could give more of herself, something that would later be confirmed, proving him right. "I have to take a step back and process my emotions first because they affect your way of thinking, especially when you lose. But then you have to realize other aspects of how they think and what their goals are, what the standard is, or what your standard should be. That match before Roland was like a little wake-up call, saying: ‘This is where we aim, you know?’,” she concluded.
Giving your all doesn't mean playing well
Eala also provided an interesting reflection on tennis, as it was difficult for her to accept at the time that despite giving it her all, she was not achieving the expected results. It's undeniable that the Filipino tennis player puts her heart and soul into every match and experiences it as a matter of life or death, as she confessed one day, but that does not go hand in hand with playing well or executing the planned match.
"You have to separate the idea that just because you gave it your all, it doesn't mean you performed well. That is very frustrating for me as an athlete; when I literally give everything of myself, mentally and physically, it just doesn’t turn out the way one wants. In tennis, dedicating many hours doesn’t mean you are going to win, because everyone else dedicates the same hours as you, but that does not mean you will be in better physical shape or play better," she concluded.
Once she understood that, Eala was able to improve her performance to the point of breaking into the top 20 and hovering around the top 10. As of today, there are few players more prominent than her, and at just 21 years old, she is one of the most promising talents on the WTA circuit.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Eala desvela el momento clave que cambió su mentalidad