EXCLUSIVE: Alexandra Eala looks forward to 2026 'but maybe 2027 will be even better'

Alexandra Eala has had quite the year in 2025 by all accounts. But wait, the fast-rising Filipina tennis star says, like a titilating teaser to a blockbuster film, there’s more to come in 2026 - and beyond.

“It's been amazing and I'm just so, so lucky to have been able to make it this far this year,” Eala said during an exclusive interview with Olympics.com, ahead of her scheduled WTA Tour season finale, the Hong Kong Tennis Open whose main draw begins on Monday (27 October).

“Basically, this far in general is great and it just leaves me hungrier, and these great results and great experiences that I've had have given me so much motivation.

“I am looking to finish the year strong. I think this time of the year is typically one where a lot of players can feel the fatigue of the whole year behind.

“But you know, I'm trying to manage it and I'm doing my best, because obviously I'm still hungry and I still want to finish off on a high note.

“At the same time my team has 2026 in mind so I try to stay in the present and the job of my team is to plan moving forward.”

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Alexandra Eala: 'I have a lot of belief in myself'

It’s been a whirlwind for the 20-year-old ever since the Miami Open in March, when, as a wild card ranked 140th in the world, she brought down a heap of records for her and her country, turning the heads of tennis fans in all corners of the globe.

Eala became the first Filipino to reach a tour semi-final, dismissing Grand Slam winners Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek on the way to the last four, before falling to Jessica Pegula.

Eala became the first player from the Philippines to beat a major champion at a tour-level event, and the first wildcard to knock off three of them at a single tournament in straight sets. As a result of Miami, she cracked the top 100, also a first by a Filipina.

Eala didn’t stop there. She went on to debut at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, defeating Clara Tauson in the latter, in the first round, for the first-ever Grand Slam victory by a Filipino player.

Eala spoke to Olympics.com following her two-set, first-round loss to Tereza Valentova at the Japan Open in Osaka earlier this month, one of a bagful of early exits she has had this season.

Nevertheless, amid all the adjustments she has had to make through the ups and downs, there’s no denying Eala has taken a significant leap forward in 2025.

“This is probably the first year, since Miami, that I would say I've done totally everything WTA and I think obviously it takes some time getting used to. I'm very happy nevertheless with how I've done, I’m very happy with the work and the guidance that my team have given me.

“I think that's also a huge part of why I've been able to succeed this year. But yeah, like I said, I feel very blessed even in moments like this after a tough loss that I'm able to have these many matches and compete against these great players.

“Because in the end, every match is a tough match when it comes to this level, and I think that's one of the things that my body is getting used to. So I would say in the day-to-day is just having to push a little bit harder and getting used to that day in, day out level. The general level of everything was pushed a bit higher.

“I think I have a lot of belief in myself and the thing is, it's all very new to me you know. There's always going to be a chance that I win and there's always going to be a chance that I lose, and it's about how I compete and whether I show up or not.

“I think I've proven myself to be capable of beating some top players. But then again, it's not always going to be like that. So it's more about for me, just focusing on how I can manage myself and how I can manage my level of tennis more than what do I expect results wise.”

Alexandra Eala: 'I take so much pride in this'

There is a maturity and groundedness detectable with Eala beyond her years, one that emanates from a tight-knit family background.

Her mother Rizza was a backstroke swimmer who medalled at the Southeast Asian Games in 1985 and went on to serve as the chief financial officer of Globe Telecom, a major Filipino telecommunications company.

Her father, Mike, has kept a low profile although his brother Noli is a former high-ranking official in Philippines basketball.

Eala says they have remained the rock of her life, as a child with big dreams and through her ascent to stardom. It’s easily imaginable where her stability comes from.

Sure, Eala is an elite prospect from the Rafael Nadal Academy, molded and developed by the methods of the 22-times Grand Slam champion. But there is something more rooted about Eala’s inner strength.

“Both my parents have obviously been such a huge part of this journey and I look to both of them for guidance when things get tough,” Eala said.

“But in regard to my mum, I definitely think that her sporting career helped shape her foundation in terms of discipline and work ethic to be able to become very successful in her corporate career.

“And my dad, he's just a legend so I don't know, he's so well-rounded. I look up to both of them a lot and I think that more than sports or not, or corporate or not, it's just the values that they choose to carry and the values that they've instilled in our family.”

How Eala carries herself on and off the court is important to her - “It's just a philosophy of life more than a career thing,” she says - and it’s how she manages to remain centred amid the noise which will likely only grow louder going forward. That, and following Nadal’s advice of surrounding herself with a good team.

Like any other up-and-coming player, Eala wants to win the big tournaments and top the rankings. She is also super proud to be representing the Philippines and the region as her mother once did, as more and more kids look to become the next Alexandra Eala.

That said, Eala is not about to get ahead of herself - one day, one week, one month at a time. She says she will be better next season, but she won’t peak just yet.

Asked about the year 2026 and blue-sky thoughts for the future, Eala said, “The obvious answer, which has always kind of been my answer, was to win Slams and to be world No. 1. I think those are kind of everybody's dream and I'm someone who's quite ambitious.

“But I think I tried to take it a step at a time especially because I really feel the growth was relatively quick, so I try to take it step by step and not think about kind of a career goal.

“My goal in general, if we're talking about the big picture, is to be the best version of myself and I cannot personally put a number on that right now - I don't know, I'm trying to make it higher and higher obviously.

“But I think in regard to coming this far and everything, I take so much pride in this, the effect that I've noticed that I've had on inspiring a spark of tennis in my country, in Southeast Asia and hopefully wherever else it has.

“But that's not to say that (2026 is) going to be my peak. Because this is the best I can be now, but maybe I can be even better in the future.

“So maybe 2026, I'll be the best Alex I can be then, but maybe 2027 will be even better.

You never know, I don't know - but yes.”

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