Alexandra Eala will always remember the 2025 tennis season as the one where she put herself on the map.
Heading into the season, the Filipino talent had enjoyed an exceedingly successful junior career and was expected to translate those talents onto the professional circuit.
However, over the years, there have been many players who seemed destined for greatness, only to fail in making the step up to the ATP or WTA Tours.
Fortunately, Alexandra Eala has done so with alarming ease, and will attract a lot of interest heading into the new season.
Speaking about her greatest strength, it’s easy to see why she has already enjoyed such a successful transition into the pinnacle of the sport.
Alexandra Eala says what she thinks sets her apart from the rest of the WTA Tour
Speaking to Rappler, seemingly just after Eala had won a gold medal for the Philippines at the SEA Games, she outlined the trait that she felt set her apart from other competitors.
Eala admitted: “There was a moment of realisation where I thought, it’s very difficult, personally, to define what’s a champion’s mentality. I feel like that’s very subjective and situational.
How high do you think Alexandra Eala’s ceiling is?
“I say this a lot, but I think my biggest strength is my mindset.
“I don’t think I’m the best in the world at any of those things [forehand, backhand, drop shot]. The thing that I can control the most is how I think, how I approach certain obstacles. A big part of that is to do with my foundation growing up. The values that my family instilled in me since I was young.
“I like to think that’s what sets me apart, and that’s what has brought me to where I am today.”
Could Alexandra Eala break into the top 20 in 2026?
Whilst it might seem lofty to argue that Eala could finish next year inside the top 20, it could be argued that she is well on track to achieve that goal.
After all, she finished this year ranked 53rd in the world, having made many significant jumps with each passing month.
All it takes for a player to continue rising is consistent runs at events and the ability to spring a surprise or two to engineer a semi-final or final berth.
What could stop Alexandra Eala from finishing 2026 inside the top 20?
Eala exhibited her ability to do both in 2025, beating star names like Iga Swiatek, Madison Keys and Clara Tauson, whilst also reaching the semi-finals in Miami and the final in Eastbourne.
To bet against her breaking into the top 20 actually feels unwise, as this 20-year-old superstar is enjoying a career that only seems to be trending in one direction: up.
