Alexandra Eala’s journey from “Miami’s Giant-Killer” to “Oeiras Top Seed”
NUEVA ECIJA, April 15, 2025 — It’s been two weeks since Alexandra Eala dominated the world of tennis after her dazzling run. Now, the 19-year-old Filipino tennis player is back on the court to be hunted by the players and not only as a hunter. She recently ranked a career-high No. 73 in the WTA rankings as of April 14, 2025.
Because of this unforgettable record for Alex Eala, she managed to step into the new role of being the top seed at the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal. This new chapter raises more pressure and opens a brighter spotlight for her from a different perspective.
Eala’s path to this point has been anything but ordinary. In late March, Alexandra turned the audience’s heads and shattered barriers at the Miami Open. This shocking performance happened after she stormed into the semifinals as a wildcard ranked No. 140 worldwide.
Along the way, she took down not one, not two, but three Grand Slam champions like Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and then-world No. 2 Iga Swiatek. The only thing that hurdled her Cinderella run was her gritty three-set loss to Jessica Pegula in the semifinals.
Although her fairytale comes up with conflict, Eala still lives her own life. The 19-year-old professional player wrote the title for being the first Filipina to reach the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 event.
Today, a different kind of battle has begun for her in Oeiras. As the top seed in the Main Draw Round of 32, Eala faces Dutch contender Anouk Koevermans with a rank of No. 182. On paper, it’s a mismatch. But tennis isn’t played on paper, and Eala knows better than anyone that rankings can be deceiving. After all, she was able to defy them.
In an interview, she admitted that she feels like carrying the weight of expectations after getting the title, “Well, there is definitely pressure because I was able to do well.” She added, “But that’s also a good sign.”
As noticed, Eala is no longer the underdog we used to be. We finally went with the days when she could quietly slip into tournaments and surprise the field. Now, she is the one with the target on her back.
Eala is the first to acknowledge the change. “In the end, I’m the same player as I was two months ago with a little bit more experience and a little bit more knowledge of what I’m capable of doing,” she said with characteristic calm. “I understand that this is new for me. This is something I haven’t done before, being in the top hundred and being one of the seeded players, so it’s not simply because I’ve done it that I can do it again. That’s what I’m trying to work on—being able to continuously keep up this level.”
“I think a big part of being able to face these opponents is to treat them like they’re any other opponent, [and] strip them of all their decorations and all their achievements,” Eala said in a post-tournament interview. Her routine never wavered, even as her opponents grew in stature. “There’s nothing that I did, in particular, that was out of my routine. I have a routine and I stick to that.”
Yet for all the hurdles, the love from her kababayans makes every mile worth it. “On the flip side, the best thing about being a Filipino athlete, of course, is the support and the Pinoys,” she said. “We’re playing in Miami and playing against an American, but the stadium was full of Filipinos.” Her voice warmed with gratitude. “I just felt so, so supported and so loved… They were there to support me and I had someone to share the achievement with.”
Now, as she stands at the crossroads of fame and pressure, Eala inspires a new generation of Filipino tennis hopefuls. “I really like to think that I have this impact,” she said. “The win that I did in Miami is getting more people to look into tennis and getting more people to love the sport.” She reflects on how rare tennis was when she was growing up. “It wasn’t basketball or it wasn’t volleyball. So to see more Filipinos picking up rackets… it’s really such a sight for sore eyes.”
Alex Eala’s story is still unfolding. At 19, she knows there are no guarantees in life, and we should always strive further to achieve our dreams.
Photo: Alex Eala’s Facebook Page
