Talent. Loads of hard work. Experienced coaches. Self-belief. There were a lot of factors that helped Alex Eala break into the WTA top 100. Apparently, even short runs and bright blue nails can go a long way.
When world no. 4 Jessica Pegula beat then-world no. 140 Alex Eala in the semifinals of the Miami Open last month, she wrote two words on the camera.
"I'm tired."
It took three hard-fought sets to settle the match. The 19-year-old Filipina even shrugging off a tweaked ankle to win the second frame.
By the end of it all, it was Eala who was seemingly tireless--smiling and acknowledging the love from the crowd.
Many took notice of Eala's steady demeanor all throughout the competition--as she blasted through three former Grand Slam champions to boot. Many also noted her conditioning born from her training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala looks back on Cinderella run in Miami Open: ‘I’m proud of myself’]
But the 19-year-old admitted she added a bit more to her routine.
"What don't I do for conditioning?" Alex chuckled as she spoke to her uncle, former PBA commissioner Noli Eala on One PH's Power & Play earlier this month. "Ang dami kong ginagawa!"
"Lately, the past couple of months, I've been running a lot," she revealed.
The 19-year-old though was candid enough to admit it wasn't her favorite.
"So running definitely was not something... that I enjoyed," she chuckled. "Like a lot."
"Do you enjoy it now?" Her uncle asked.
"Well, noooo...?" Alex trailed off. "Could be better."
Running has become a trend for many after the COVID-19 pandemic as a means of staying active. Eala said that she has incorporated this in her routine, running almost every day for half an hour before going to the gym when she's not participating in a tournament.
And for a professional athlete like her, the cross-training certainly provided a boost.
"It's something that I know helps me a lot," she said. "You know, it adds up. It really adds up. In terms of running and cardio, I've seen the improvement so much. I feel more like an athlete now and not just a tennis player."
Aside from her calm, steady demeanor throughout the WTA 1000 tournament, Eala was memorable in Miami for her maroon shirt and cobalt blue nails.
For the 19-year-old athlete, who already made the cover of both Tatler Philippines and Vogue Philippines, fashion is more than a statement.
"I really believe in the saying that 'look good, feel good,'" Eala said.
"When I'm on the court, when you're having a bad day and then you just put on a nice outfit, you feel good about yourself," she reflected.
"It motivates me to to do the work even though it though it looks difficult that day. I'm happy to to see that people are taking notice."
Of course, those were not the only things that helped Eala in her Cinderella run.
A major part of it was a strong sense of belief and confidence in herself--instilled by her coaches.
[ALSO READ: World no. 75 Alex Eala shares how Miami Open run helped level up her game]
These are only some of the many things to look forward to regarding the now-world no. 73, as she competes in Portugal and Madrid before making her Grand Slam debut as a pro at the French Open.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala reveals major challenge as a Filipino athlete abroad: visa applications]
We await what she has to write on the camera next time, cobalt blue nails and all.