Romwel Anzures

The Philippines' Alexandra Eala returns to Australia's Maya Joint during their women's singles second round tennis match on the fourth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, on July 2, 2026. Photo by Glyn Kirk, AFP

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783237874596IMG_1330.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The Philippines&#x27; Alexandra Eala returns to Australia&#x27;s Maya Joint during their women&#x27;s singles second round tennis match on the fourth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, on July 2, 2026. Photo by Glyn Kirk, AFP."/>The Philippines&#x27; Alexandra Eala returns to Australia&#x27;s Maya Joint during their women&#x27;s singles second round tennis match on the fourth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, on July 2, 2026. Photo by Glyn Kirk, AFP.MANILA — As Alex Eala continued to carve out her place among tennis&#x27; brightest stars with her campaign at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, the Filipina ace also further cemented her status as one of the country&#x27;s sporting heroes on the global stage.</div>The 21-year-old carried the hopes of a nation as she stunned World No. 3 Iga Swiatek, 7-6 (11-9), 6-2, in the third round on Saturday, and for Eala, inspiring fellow Filipinos is an honor she gladly embraces.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/7/4/alex-eala-dethrones-defending-champion-iga-swiatek-advances-to-wimbledon-fourth-round-2254">READ: Alex Eala dethrones defending champion Iga Swiatek, advances to Wimbledon fourth round</a></div>“It’s an honor to be able to pave the way for young girls and it would be the honor of my life to inspire others,” said Eala, who became the first Filipina to reach the second week of a Grand Slam.As she becomes a role model for the next generation, Eala also paid tribute to the Filipino athletes who shaped her own journey.“Manny Pacquiao is someone super inspiring as an athlete. And in recent years, Hidilyn Diaz, who won the first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines, is such a huge inspiration. Carlos Yulo, in the most recent Olympics, won two gold medals, and of course, EJ Obiena,” said Eala.“Filipinos have such a great work ethic. We are really hard workers, and when it counts, we can show up,” she added.Now one of the country&#x27;s biggest sporting stars, Eala acknowledged the responsibility that comes with her growing influence.“I think inspiration is such a beautiful thing,” she said. “I try to be as authentic as I can. I believe in being genuine, I believe in my values. So this exposure has allowed me to self-reflect, and it allows me to be the best version of myself because I know that a lot of people look up to me.”Still, Eala hopes aspiring athletes will use her story as motivation, and not just as a blueprint.“Then again, I want to remind everybody that you can take inspiration from anywhere you want,” Eala stressed.“The main message here is that I don&#x27;t want them to look at me and say, ‘I want to be the next Alex Eala.’ I want them to look at me and say, ‘I want to be the first me. I want to make my own path,’” she added.

As Alex Eala continued to carve out her place among tennis' brightest stars with her campaign at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, the Filipina ace also further cemented her status as one of the country's sporting heroes on the global stage.

As Alex Eala continued to carve out her place among tennis' brightest stars with her campaign at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, the Filipina ace also further cemented her status as one of the country's sporting heroes on the global stage.

Honored to inspire, Eala urges next generation of Pinoy athletes to 'be the first you'

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Sports

Honored to inspire, Eala urges next generation of Pinoy athletes to 'be the first you'

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 05, 2026 07:15 PM PHT

|

Updated July 06, 2026 11:59 AM PHT

Read More:

Tennis

ABSSports

Alex Eala

2026 Wimbledon

Iga Swiatek

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.