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Philippine tennis star Alex Eala at an exclusive homecoming celebration hosted by BPI | Photo by Bianca Salonga

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Alex Eala

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784111639730Alex Eala Thumbnail_FINAL GROUP SHOT.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Philippine tennis star Alex Eala at an exclusive homecoming celebration hosted by BPI | Photo by Bianca Salonga</em></span></span></span></div><p>Fresh from her successful run at Wimbledon, Alex Eala shares her thoughts on competing at the largest stages, honing a champion mentality, and nurturing a life outside of the court.</p><p>Filipino tennis phenom, Alex Eala, had only been back in Manila for two days when she headed to an exclusive homecoming celebration hosted by BPI. Prior to the afternoon engagement, she was presented with a presidential citation at the Malacañan. The sports hero was also at a fan meet for one of her major clothing sponsors. Her schedule while in Manila has also been packed with back-to-back photo shoots, public appearances, and of course, quality time with family and friends from childhood.</p><p>Alex will hit the road soon to prepare for the US Open happening in September. She discloses: “I don’t have a specific round where I say, ‘Oh, <em>kailangan ko abutin tong</em> round <em>na ‘to</em>.’ The way I approach tournaments is match by match, round by round. I do want to get as far as I possibly can. The ultimate goal is to win, but I take it round by round.”</p><p>Historic successes, from her stellar run in Miami last 2025 up to her recent breakthrough in Wimbledon, have stood witness to Eala’s mental fortitude and preparedness. She opines, “Mental toughness in the life of a professional athlete is being practiced everyday. It’s not something you have exercises for. It naturally develops from the situations you are put in–you are always in high pressure situations, you always want to do well, you are always self demanding...When I’m facing a top 10, I know that it’s going to be a tough match. There is a level of focus that I need to reach and if I don’t reach that, the chances drop. I like to seize the opportunities that I have. It’s about mentality.”</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784112090081Alex Eala Seated.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:520px"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Eala expounds: “It’s a continuous process of learning. It’s already been so long but also I’m only getting started. One thing I’ve learned about myself is how to control my emotions, how to dictate my emotions rather than allow it to take over.”</p><p>She adds that preparation has helped her perform on the biggest stages in the sport. For Eala, time in the gym, training on the courts, nutrition and sleep are non-negotiables when preparing for any tournament whether it be the grand slams or masters. “I have had the same team for a while now. We work really well together. They have guided me through my recovery journey. The two most important things are food and sleep. I don&#x27;t have a specific diet, but I do like to eat healthy and my fitness coach makes sure of that.”</p><p>The 21-year old also candidly opened up about life and love outside the courts. She confirms, “Yes, I have a life outside of tennis. It’s definitely something that I put effort into nurturing. A lot of the time, especially where I’m travelling so much for my job, the work-life balance becomes unbalanced.” Within and beyond the WTA tour, Eala has forged close friendships with fellow rising stars like Zeynep Sonmez, Eva Lys and Iva Jovic. She shares, “One of the goals I had at the start of the year was to make more friends on tour. I love to go out with them when our schedules align, try new places, travel and try the food from each country.”</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784112176894Alex Eala Solo.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:490px"/></div><p>Outside of the courts, Eala has also found joy in discovering her style persona. “Im quite girly but also in a confident way, edgy,” she describes. During some of her biggest moments like her debut at Wimbledon in 2025 or first appearance at the Laureus World Sports Awards (also known as the Oscars of the sporting world), she remained intentional about wearing elements of Filipino heritage. “It is a way for me to pay tribute to my culture. It is also a slight nod to where I come from. I also genuinely think it’s beautiful. For example, when I wore the <em>sampguita</em> (hair tie), I felt beautiful and confident. When I wore Tito Rhett’s Filipiniana, I felt beautiful–like a princess. I do love fashion. I would love to collaborate with Filipino designers.”  </p><p>A true champion and model Filipino, Alex Eala remains steady in her quest for sporting excellence. Young as she is, she has learned to cancel out the noise and stay true to herself. She has also kept her eyes fixed on the goal she sought out to achieve from the time she entered the Rafael Nadal Academy at age 13.</p><p>She closes, “I cannot speak for how people might perceive me before or after my Wimbledon run, but I know that I don&#x27;t see myself any different…I believe in myself a lot, that’s one of the foundations of my mentality and how I approach competitions…I’ve experienced all the hard work I&#x27;ve put in. I know who I am. It’s very important in such public or vulnerable settings to know who you are.”</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br id="isPasted"/><br/></div>

<p>Fresh from her successful run at Wimbledon, Alex Eala shares her thoughts on competing at the largest stages, honing a champion mentality, and nurturing a life outside of the court.</p>

Fresh from her successful run at Wimbledon, Alex Eala shares her thoughts on competing at the largest stages, honing a champion mentality, and nurturing a life outside of the court.

Homecoming conversations with Alex Eala

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Homecoming conversations with Alex Eala

Bianca Salonga

Published July 14, 2026 11:32 PM PHT

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Updated July 16, 2026 01:55 AM PHT

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Alex Eala

Filipino Athlete

Women In Sports

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Mental Strength

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