Nelson Morales

Alex Eala embracing role in helping unite Filipinos amid social, political divisions

Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala answers questions and interacts with fans during a fan meet at Nike The Fort on Monday, July 13, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Romwel Anzures

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/178392491778220260713-alex-eala-nike-meet-greet-JC0804-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala during her “Play Mind Games” meet and greet at Nike Fort in Taguig, July 13, 2026. Photo by Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN news."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala during her “Play Mind Games” meet and greet at Nike Fort in Taguig, July 13, 2026. Photo by Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN news.</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — As <a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/13/-a-threat-is-a-threat-what-to-expect-on-day-4-of-vp-sara-impeachment-trial-0754"><strong>political and social divisions continue to test the country</strong></a>, Alex Eala is embracing her growing role as a source of shared pride for Filipinos.</p><p>The Filipina tennis sensation has given the nation plenty to celebrate, most recently through her <a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/7/5/alex-eala-embraces-slow-serve-to-dethrone-world-no-3-iga-swiatek-1552"><strong>historic run at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships.</strong></a></p><p>For Eala, her success also carries the responsibility of representing the Philippines well, especially as one of the country&#x27;s most recognizable athletes on the world stage.</p><p>&quot;I try my best to showcase the best of us Filipinos, and hope for the best,&quot; said the 21-year-old ahead of her &quot;Play Mind Games&quot; exclusive meet-and-greet at Nike Fort in Taguig on Monday.</p><p>&quot;I know that I&#x27;m in a lot of international stages, and I&#x27;m the only Filipina in a lot of the stages that I&#x27;m in,&quot; she added.</p><p>Now joining the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Hidilyn Diaz, Carlos Yulo, and other sporting icons from the Philippines, Eala continues to make her mark, recently climbing to a career-high No. 28 in the WTA rankings.</p><p>Yet even as she has emerged as one of Philippine sports&#x27; brightest stars, Eala remains humbled by the influence she now holds and sees it as a way of honoring those who guided her growing up.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/7/5/honored-to-inspire-eala-urges-next-generation-of-pinoy-athletes-to-be-the-first-you-1915"><strong>READ: Honored to inspire, Eala urges next generation of Pinoy athletes to &#x27;be the first you&#x27;</strong></a></div><p>&quot;Sometimes it&#x27;s hard to take myself that seriously,&quot; she acknowledged. &quot;But I&#x27;m happy that I have a positive impact on the community here, and I also think of the people who have inspired me growing up for what they&#x27;ve done for me.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m so, so proud to be Pinoy, and I think that&#x27;s one thing that I share with everybody — the love of being Pinoy and the pride of being Pinoy. So, I do my best to showcase that,&quot; Eala added.</p><p>Above all, Eala cherishes the chance to help shape the next generation, whether in tennis or beyond.</p><p>&quot;It feels like yesterday that I was just those girls, and in so many ways, I&#x27;m still so young, so there are still so many people I look up to,&quot; she said. &quot;But to be able to give back, or to start building a legacy, is amazing to me.&quot;</p><p>&quot;If I get to touch others&#x27; lives in a positive way, no matter how big the impact is, then I&#x27;ll be very grateful,&quot; she added.</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/qb2IArxLWno?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>As political and social divisions continue to test the country, Alex Eala is embracing her growing role as a source of shared pride for Filipinos.</p>

As political and social divisions continue to test the country, Alex Eala is embracing her growing role as a source of shared pride for Filipinos.