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Alex Eala during the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open quarterfinals at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila on January 29, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779695052414IMG_1035.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Alex Eala during the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open quarterfinals at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila on January 29, 2026. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Filipina tennis star Alex Eala heads into the opening week of the French Open brimming with confidence and excitement after what she described as her most extensive clay-court swing yet.</div><p>“I think I’m super excited for this week,” Eala told reporters during a press conference at Roland Garros. “We do the preparation obviously to arrive to the Grand Slams well, so I’m feeling good. I’m happy and, you know, nothing on the line, nothing to lose. So I’m really excited.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/5/24/tennis-alex-eala-says-more-prepared-for-french-open-1641">READ: Alex Eala says &#x27;more prepared&#x27; for French Open</a></div><p>The 21-year-old Filipina said she feels far more prepared on clay compared to last year, crediting the strides she has made over the past 12 months.</p><p>“Well, I definitely feel more prepared than last year,” she said. “I think I have improved a lot on this surface. Of course, I have such a long way to go, but I think I’ve improved a lot in the past year as a player and it’s really helped me manage the challenges that come with the surface for me.”</p><p>Eala has kept a busy schedule throughout the clay season, competing nearly every week leading up to Roland Garros. Despite the grind, the world No. 37 said she has enjoyed the process and preparation ahead of the year’s second Grand Slam.</p><p>“I’m having a lot of fun here,” she said. “A lot of good practices and a lot of hours on court. So, I’m really excited to start the week.”</p><p>Eala also reflected on the emotional demands of life on tour, sharing that she leans heavily on her support system during difficult stretches.</p><p>“Maybe I talk a lot with my coaches. I talk a lot with my parents and tell them how I feel,” Eala shared. “I think it’s always a good thing if you have somebody you can consult or you can just share whatever with, and for me that’s my team and my family and my friends here on tour.”</p><p>“I think the challenges that come with tennis in terms of keeping your emotions in check are not solely based on the crowd,” she added. “There are so many things in tennis that can make you tense, excited, or disappointed during the match that do not involve external factors. So being able to harness your emotions in a positive way and keep them in check is a really great skill for every athlete to have.”</p><p>Eala likewise spoke warmly about the friendships she has built with fellow young stars on the WTA Tour, including Eva Lys, Zeynep Sonmez, and her first-round opponent Iva Jovic, who even surprised her with a birthday cake before the tournament.</p><p>“They were so sweet,” she said. “Each and every one of them are such dear friends of mine and I don’t know how I would survive the tour without these friendships because they’re not just my friends from tennis — they’re really my friends in life.”</p><p>“It’s very normal that at times we play each other. We play so many tournaments, but we’re professionals at the end of the day. We know how to handle it and we know how to keep it separate.”</p><p>Despite the growing attention surrounding her rise, Eala remained grounded while expressing gratitude for the continued support from the Philippines.</p><p>“I do get a lot of love. I get a lot of support from my home country, which I’m so, so proud of and I’m so, so grateful for,” she said.</p><p>Eala enters the tournament carrying momentum from a breakthrough stretch over the past year that saw her firmly establish herself inside the WTA Top 50.</p><p>“I’m always hungry. I’m always wanting to improve, but I’m really proud of that,” she said. “I think that’s something I should take pride in.”</p><p>“Maraming salamat po mga kababayan, sa mga bumati po sa akin ngayon,” Eala added in a message to her Filipino fans during her birthday press conference. “Sana subaybayan niyo ’yung mga laro ko rito sa French Open.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L7vgi_qRdPw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Filipina tennis star Alex Eala heads into the opening week of the French Open brimming with confidence and excitement after what she described as her most extensive clay-court swing yet.</p>

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala heads into the opening week of the French Open brimming with confidence and excitement after what she described as her most extensive clay-court swing yet.

Eala thrilled to celebrate birthday at French Open, face Jovic in first round

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Eala thrilled to celebrate birthday at French Open, face Jovic in first round

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 25, 2026 03:48 PM PHT

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Tennis

ABSSports

Alex Eala

Roland Garros

WTA

French Open

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