Alex Eala’s emergence onto the tennis scene threatens not only to reshape Filipino culture but also the entire tennis landscape forever.
After all, the support she is commanding, despite being ranked only 28th in the world, is astounding.
She sells out arenas on her own, and videos featuring her will get thousands more views than those without.
And so, unsurprisingly, Eala has been told the impact she’s had on tennis in the Philippines already. The 20-year-old has now offered her own experience of this influence.
Alex Eala points out the change she’s noticed in tennis in the Philippines
Speaking to Front Office Sports during her time at Indian Wells, she maturely discussed her Filipina roots and how her presence on the WTA Tour is reshaping the sport in her home nation.
Alexandra Eala claimed: “Definitely been brought up to me by a lot of media, such as yourself. At 20 years old it’s very difficult to start thinking about a legacy when I’m only starting my career.
Does anybody else even come close to Alex Eala’s popularity right now?
“But I was talking the other day with one of the members of my team and growing up, I noticed tennis is very inaccessible in the Philippines.
“Thankfully, tennis has risen in popularity at home and everyone comes up to me whenever I go back to Manila, it’s so hard to get courts, it’s so hard to get courts and that’s a good thing, because when I was younger, the courts were empty… nobody was playing.
“But at the same time, it’s tough to have access to tennis courts and equipment. There are not many public courts, and if there are, they’re not in great shape. They’re mostly in country clubs and things like that.
“At the end, I do what I can to inspire the next generation, but it’s out of my hands, and I think there are more people in power who are able to make a difference.”
Where Alex Eala will be seeded at the Miami Open
Following on from this strong showing at Indian Wells, Eala will now return to Miami, the site of her big breakthrough from last year.
There, she made a remarkable run all the way to the semi-finals, beating three Grand Slam champions before Jessica Pegula finally put an end to her fairytale.
What does Alexandra Eala need to improve in 2026 to challenge for a Grand Slam title?
Since then, it’s fair to say that Eala has capitalised on her success, becoming the first Filipina player to achieve anything of note in the tennis world, whether that be Grand Slam qualification, main draw wins and reaching tour-level finals too.
Following her fine performance in California, Eala will be seeded at the Miami Open this year, sneaking in the 32nd spot.
Last year, she was an unknown wildcard. This year, she will likely be the tournament’s biggest draw.
