“I would love to think that I make a difference” – Eala hopes to inspire tennis growth in Philippines
The 19-year-old is the first player from her country to reach a WTA-level semi-final and the first to beat a Grand Slam champion
Alexandra Eala, Miami 2025
Alexandra Eala has created history at this week’s WTA Miami Open, becoming the first player from the Philippines to reach a WTA Tour-level semi-final. The 19-year-old also became the first Filipino player in the Open Era to defeat a former Grand Slam champion (Jelena Ostapenko in the second round) at the WTA-level and she has repeated that twice more this week with wins over Madison Keys in the third round and then five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek on Wednesday.
With her ranking set to climb inside the top 100 for the first time next week, Eala hopes to inspire more people from her country to take up the sport and help tennis grow in the region.
“I would love to think that I make a difference. That’s the only thing I can do to give back to my country is to help inspire, to inspire change and positive change, to inspire people to pick up a racquet, to watch more tennis, watch more women’s tennis,” she told the media in Miami after the biggest win of her career.
“I think that tennis in the Philippines has so much potential, because even though it’s not as widespread as other sports, I feel that we have a lot of hidden talent, and if we can have the support to back it up and the exposure to back it up, then I think that Philippine tennis can be a big thing.”
It’s super surreal to think that the circumstances have changed, I’m facing her on court.
While this was the first time that Eala was facing Swiatek on the court, the two had come face-to-face last year when the Pole was part of the graduation ceremony at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, where Eala has been training for several years.
“She was a guest speaker and celebrity guest. I think every year the academy tries to invite a public figure I guess to inspire the kids and to super inspire,” Eala revealed. “I thought I was super lucky to have her during my graduation. She just came off I think a slam win also, Roland Garros, if I remember correctly. But I remember that I walked up and she was, like, Oh, I know you. I have seen you. I was, like, Yes (smiling). Then she even did the whole ceremony with the whole class, tossed the hat, and I was so lucky, because I was, like, beside her. It’s super surreal to think that the circumstances have changed, I’m facing her on court. I’m blessed to have that opportunity.”
“I loved her grit and obviously the way she styled herself and the way she carried herself…” – Eala on Sharapova
Swiatek is not the only one who has inspired Eala, who cited another former world No 1 and five-time Grand Slam winner, Maria Sharapova, as her all-time favourite.
“Growing up my absolute favourite was Maria Sharapova. I loved her grit and obviously the way she styled herself and the way she carried herself, very young, and she was someone I really looked up to. Then later on, people like Simona Halep, people like Li Na, Ash Barty, so many people I took inspiration from. So many people.”
Up next for the Filipino is a clash against fourth seed Jessica Pegula. “I’s definitely going to be very difficult. I know that’s for sure. It’s going to take everything in me to win. But I’m willing to give everything,” she said.
