Alex Eala, fresh off her Miami Open quarterfinal win over world No. 2 Iga Swiatek, hopes her success will inspire the growth of Philippine tennis as she continues chasing her ultimate goals in the sport.
Alex Eala is no stranger to making history.
But as she continues her meteoric rise in the professional ranks, Eala hopes her success will spark a lasting impact on Philippine tennis.
Fresh off her stunning quarterfinal victory at the 2025 Miami Open against world No. 2 Iga Swiatek, the 19-year-old Eala reflected on her growing impact on Philippine tennis and her long-term aspirations in the sport.
[ALSO READ: World no. 2 Iga Swiatek tips hat to Alex Eala in Miami Open shocker: 'She went all out']
“I would love to think that I make a difference,” Eala said when asked about her influence back home. “The only thing I can do to give back to my country is to help inspire— to inspire change, to inspire people to pick up a racket, to watch more tennis, to watch more women's tennis.”
It's safe to say that Eala's historic run has not gone unnoticed in the country. In fact, plenty of Filipinos saw themselves awake past midnight just to watch the Filipina tennis star in action.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala plays match of a lifetime to upset world no. 2 Iga Swiatek: 'Forever in my heart']
But while tennis remains overshadowed by other sports in the Philippines, Eala believes the sport has immense potential.
The 19-year-old lefty sees many talented players who, with the right support and exposure, could elevate Philippine tennis to greater heights.
“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.
Having already achieved milestones, including a 2022 US Open junior title, Eala remains focused on her ultimate goals—winning Grand Slam titles and becoming the world’s No. 1 player.
With her meteoric rise in the Miami Open, Eala is one step closer to achieving her goal of making it to the Grand Slam tournaments. This time, she likely will not have to go through the qualifiers.
“My dreams have stayed the same,” she shared. “Being a successful junior doesn’t mean you’ll be a successful professional, so I made it a point to work hard every day and trust that my time would come. Hopefully, this is the time.”
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala points to her unshakable faith, self-belief to fuel historic Miami Open run]
For now, Eala remains focused on the task at hand—and that is to defeat world No. 4 Jessica Pegula in their upcoming semifinal match tomorrow, March 28 at 8:30 a.m. (Manila time).