By Al S. Mendoza
Alex Eala penned a message of gratitude to her Filipino supporters as she left Manila ahead of her upcoming tennis tournament.
On her Instagram page, Alex wrote: “That’s a wrap on Manila. Maraming salamat sa pagtanggap sa akin mga kababayan!”
The Filipina tennis star shared that the stories she heard from the people she met during her visit deeply moved her.
“Each and every one of your stories has touched me on a profound level. I leave with a refreshed memory of what I carry when I’m out there playing tennis. And wow, is it a privilege to be part of something bigger than myself. Never been prouder to represent home,” she remarked.
Earlier in July, Alex made history after stunning world No. 3 Iga Świątek, becoming the first Filipina in the Open Era to reach the fourth round, and the second week, of a Grand Slam tournament.
Following her landmark victory and qualification for the Round of 16, Alex became emotional as she reflected on what the achievement meant to her and aspiring athletes in the Philippines.
“I’m really emotional. Maybe for someone like Iga, who has won so many slams, or maybe someone like Serena or Venus (Williams), this achievement may seem small, but for someone who grew up in the Philippines… You know I went to train with my brother and my grandfather every day after school with my ruffled socks and my light-up shoes and chubby cheeks,” she said in a courtside interview.
Previously, Alex became the first Filipina to defeat two Top 10 players at the Miami Open in March 2025 and the first Filipina to win a Grand Slam singles main-draw match at the U.S. Open in August 2025.
In a recent interview with Karen Davila, Alex opened up about how she and her family deal with the victories and defeats in her tennis career.
“[After a win], we are all just so excited, especially the big ones, and even when they are not there, I call them. They are the first people I call and it’s a really good scene,” she said.
Alex also acknowledged that every loss affects her differently, but each setback ultimately teaches her how to bounce back and move forward.
“Every loss is different. Some hit harder than others, and they make you cry; they make you rethink a lot of things. Sometimes they set you back, but I think tennis is such a humbling sport in a way that you lose so many times that you learn to lose and you learn how to get back from those things. And what’s beautiful about tennis is there is always a next time,” she remarked. (Toff C. /Push.com)
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