There’s no denying it anymore: Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala is firmly in the tennis spotlight. And that’s for good reason. She has taken the sport by storm, and now winning is fast becoming part of what could be best described as Alex Eala Mania.
It’s the kind of spotlight that could be overbearing and overwhelming for a 21-year-old from a small country with little to no tennis tradition to speak of. Then again, Alex Eala is not your everyday 21-year-old. She is proving to be one of a kind, and she’s carrying the hopes of a nation with unusual grace and poise.
Alex Eala Acknowledges the Weight of the Spotlight
The thing about Alex Eala, though, is that she’s refreshingly honest, and in the pre-tournament presser ahead of the Cincinnati Open, she admitted that stardom isn’t as easy as she’s making it look.
“There are moments where it’s heavy, there are moments where it’s fun,” Eala said when asked about the weight of the spotlight and whether it is heavy or fun for her. “But at the end of the day, I am also aware that it’s a crazy experience, so I’m just trying to take it all in.”
As crazy as things have been, Eala knows fully well that all the hard work she has put in is the biggest reason the spotlight has been thrust upon her.
“I know also that I wouldn’t be having these experiences if I didn’t do all the work that I did beforehand, so I know that I won’t continue to experience it if I don’t continue that work,” Eala pointed out. “I think it’s really helped me develop as a person and just see things from a different perspective. It’s allowed me to mature a lot, and it’s taught me a lot of lessons, but also given me so much joy.”
It’s Been Quite the Journey
Indeed, Alex Eala has developed both as a player and as a person.
A year ago, she was largely unknown until her remarkable Miami Open run. Now, almost two seasons since that unforgettable introduction to the tennis world, the Filipina sensation is ranked No. 20 in the world and is among a handful of players seeded in the Cincinnati Open, a WTA 1000 event with a rich history.
And with an adoring nation behind her every serve and every shot, best believe that Alex Eala will receive her share of the spotlight once more.
Expect, too, that she’ll know how to best deal with it.
