Alex Eala is proud to see Filipino culture making its way into the international tennis scene as her career continues to take her to different parts of the world.
During her recent Canadian Open campaign in Toronto, the Filipina tennis star not only received overwhelming support from thousands of kababayans but also saw Filipino touches become part of the experience: from the national flag waved through the courts and local food staples being enjoyed by fans at the tournament, to personally wearing jewelry and apparel with distinct Filipino designs.
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"I mean, you can see, I'm kind of just like a drop in the ocean, you know, when it comes to Filipinos and their pride for their culture and where they come. Well, me, I do a lot to kind of represent my country and I'm very proud of it. But you see, I mean, the stadium was full of people who [did] the same thing, right? So, I guess that just shows you what kind of a community we are and what kind of people we are and how supportive we are of each other," Alex said in during her post-match press conference in August 10.
Among the Filipino touches Alex proudly brought to Toronto were her Sampaguita earrings gifted to her by local jewelry brand Kristine Dee Jewellery.
Filipino cuisine also found its way into the tournament atmosphere, with local favorites like adobo and lumpiang shanghai selling out during her matches as more Filipinos gathered to support her.
However, this is not the first time Alex has carried distinctly Filipino pride through her tennis wardrobe.
During Wimbledon 2026, she wore a sun visor from Nike embroidered with the words "Kapag Lumago, Hindi Na Hihinto," printed on the back strap that fittingly reflects her own continued rise in the sport.
Nike has also created Filipino-inspired pieces for Alex featuring the Sampaguita, the Philippines' national flower.
For Alex, these Filipino touches are just one part of the bigger cultural experience she witnessed in Toronto. Beyond what she wore and what fans enjoyed, she was also able to see how tennis brought people from different backgrounds together, with various communities showing up to celebrate their players and share their passion for the sport.
"I learned that they're very passionate. They're very kind. I learned that it's very multicultural. It's a mixing pot of cultures and personalities and passions, I guess. It's nice to see tennis be a medium for them to come together and kind of celebrate the things they love. I know, of course, for example, the Filipino community, I know the Turkish community came out, I know, of course, your hometown heroes, they showed up. So, amazing, really amazing. Amazing experience,” she said.
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Her Toronto campaign eventually came to an end after she fell to Switzerland's Belinda Bencic, 4-6, 0-6, in their Round of 16 showdown on August 10.
Still, the Canadian Open marked another memorable chapter for Alex, who arrived in Toronto fresh from winning her first WTA singles title in Washington and reaching a career-high World No. 20 ranking.
After weeks of demanding competition, Alex plans to give herself some time to recharge before returning to the court. "I definitely will take maybe two days off, a day or two. I do have to travel to Cincinnati. I need to get a haircut. I haven't gotten a haircut in a while. My nails are grown out. I'll do a couple things just to get my mind off tennis. I think Toronto is a great place to do that. Yeah, reunite maybe with some friends in Cincinnati and just try to have fun."
"I'll be back on court like that. So, I got to enjoy the time that I have that I'm not on court," she added.
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Despite bowing out from the Canadian Open, Alex chooses to look back on her journey with gratitude, carrying the lessons she learned into her next tournaments.
"It's always tough, of course, after a loss, but like I said, I'm looking back at these past maybe two weeks as a really big positive. I think I've played really well. I've gotten through so many obstacles. Of course, right now, there's that initial kind of just a little tired and down from the match. But yeah, I'm healthy, which is something I'm super grateful for, something that's obviously on the top of my priority all the time. So, yeah, I'm counting my blessings. I'm taking the lessons that I have I've had from these two weeks and hopefully implementing them even more and in a better way in Cincinnati and New York," Alex maintained.