Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala shares her life beyond the baseline
Screencap from alex.eala/Instagram
Competitive, determined, and ambitious—these are the words that Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala uses to describe herself, as revealed in a behind-the-scenes video produced by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
Currently sitting just outside the Top 200 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, Eala is making steady progress, having clinched four ITF World Tennis Tour titles and a notable career-high ranking of No. 189 in October.
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But, as ambitious as she is, this 18-year-old player who trains at Rafa Nadal Academy is now setting her sights on a new frontier—the highly competitive WTA circuit.
“My goal is to be able to integrate myself to the WTA circuit more and to be able to handle myself better on the court,” Eala shares in the video that captures her day, from training sessions to lunch and beyond.
This aspirational move comes on the heels of her historic victory at the 2022 US Open Girls’ Championship just last year and her recent bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Games.
Refining her on-court presence, the tennis prodigy showcases a maturity beyond her years. Her return to the academy in Mallorca, Spain, signifies a commitment to continuous improvement.
“Alex is progressing a lot [in] her technique, fitness, and mental too. We are working very hard in the last two years on her technique and also in fitness, and we can see that she is actually improving a lot on these two skills,” expresses Dani Gomez, Eala’s coach since she came to the academy.
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For five years, Gomez has been an integral part of Eala’s development, emphasizing the concerted efforts focused on harnessing her technique, enhancing physical fitness, and nurturing mental resilience.
However, for the star athlete, she remarked that in general, the whole year “hasn’t been like all rainbows and butterflies,” as she struggled a lot, especially during the start of the year.
Acknowledging the challenges she faced, her candid reflection unveils the grit and determination required to navigate the ups and downs of a professional tennis career.
Alex Eala, off the court
The footage captures Eala not only as a fierce competitor on the court but also as a young woman taking on the challenges of an athlete’s lifestyle off the baseline.
During a candid lunch discussion about the importance of maintaining a healthy diet, she reminisces about her time at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in September.
In a moment of authenticity, Eala shares a challenge she faced at the sporting event—a tempting free fast food chicken in the cafeteria.
“There was a free KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) in the cafeteria of the Asian Games so I was tempted every day by that,” she discloses with a smile after underscoring the importance of nutrition and sleep for recovery. “But maybe I got (it) only a few times.”
Despite the temptation of the finger-licking goodness, the Filipina tennis player resisted and showcased discipline, and it was evident as she secured two bronze medals in women’s singles and mixed doubles.
Her double bronze win, a feat not seen in 16 years in the country’s tennis scene, resonates with the pride and collective spirit of Filipinos worldwide.
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“I think that Filipinos are very proud of their country, and of their culture, and I’m part of that group of people,” she quips. “So, it gives me a sense of community and I’m super grateful for all the motivation it gives me, for all the support and all the love they’ve been transmitting from the other side of the world.”
Currently, Eala has progressed to the semifinals of the W40 Kyotec Open following a victory over Danish qualifier Jasmijn Gimbrere, 6-3, 6-2, on Nov. 17 in Petange, Luxembourg.
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