Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala during her “Play Mind Games” meet and greet at Nike Fort in Taguig, July 13, 2026. Photo by Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN news.
MANILA — As political and social divisions continue to test the country, Alex Eala is embracing her growing role as a source of shared pride for Filipinos.
The Filipina tennis sensation has given the nation plenty to celebrate, most recently through her historic run at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships.
For Eala, her success also carries the responsibility of representing the Philippines well, especially as one of the country's most recognizable athletes on the world stage.
"I try my best to showcase the best of us Filipinos, and hope for the best," said the 21-year-old ahead of her "Play Mind Games" exclusive meet-and-greet at Nike Fort in Taguig on Monday.
"I know that I'm in a lot of international stages, and I'm the only Filipina in a lot of the stages that I'm in," she added.
Now joining the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Hidilyn Diaz, Carlos Yulo, and other sporting icons from the Philippines, Eala continues to make her mark, recently climbing to a career-high No. 28 in the WTA rankings.
Yet even as she has emerged as one of Philippine sports' brightest stars, Eala remains humbled by the influence she now holds and sees it as a way of honoring those who guided her growing up.
READ: Honored to inspire, Eala urges next generation of Pinoy athletes to 'be the first you'
"Sometimes it's hard to take myself that seriously," she acknowledged. "But I'm happy that I have a positive impact on the community here, and I also think of the people who have inspired me growing up for what they've done for me."
"I'm so, so proud to be Pinoy, and I think that's one thing that I share with everybody — the love of being Pinoy and the pride of being Pinoy. So, I do my best to showcase that," Eala added.
Above all, Eala cherishes the chance to help shape the next generation, whether in tennis or beyond.
"It feels like yesterday that I was just those girls, and in so many ways, I'm still so young, so there are still so many people I look up to," she said. "But to be able to give back, or to start building a legacy, is amazing to me."
"If I get to touch others' lives in a positive way, no matter how big the impact is, then I'll be very grateful," she added.
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