EALA CHASING MAJOR DREAMS

In this series, The Straits Times highlights the players or teams to watch in the world of sport. Today, we focus on Filipina tennis star Alexandra Eala, who has had a breakout season.

- Andy Ng Correspondent

Not too long ago, few tennis fans would have heard of Alexandra Eala but much has changed now, with every swing of her racket aiming to rewrite history.

At just 20 years old, the Quezon City-born phenomenon has catapulted into the WTA top 50, a milestone that not only caps a whirlwind 2025 season but also cements her as a trailblazer for Filipino athletes on the global stage.

Her journey from a wildcard entrant scraping into Major tournaments to a ranked force challenging Grand Slam champions reads like a script from an underdog epic.

Yet, behind the victories lies a young woman grappling with the surreal weight of her ascent, fuelled by family roots, unyielding discipline and a quiet ambition.

Eala's story begins far from the manicured courts of Wimbledon or the sun-baked hard courts of Miami. Born and raised in the Philippines, she grew up in a household where athletic excellence was not just encouraged but woven into the fabric of daily life.

Her mother, Rizza, a former competitive swimmer who clinched a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke at the 1985 SEA Games and later rose to become the chief financial officer at telecom giant Globe, instilled in Eala a sense of discipline and poise under pressure.

Her father, Mike, has kept a low profile but his brother Eala's uncle is a former high-ranking official in Philippines basketball, according to an interview with Eala on the Olympics website.

"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.