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Tennis: Alex Eala says 'feeling great' ahead of Grand Slam debut

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17481435832971748143581804.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Alex Eala. Photo from Eala/Facebook </div>PARIS — Alex Eala, who turned 20 last week, steps into a moment she’s long worked for: Her first-ever Grand Slam main draw. She faces Emiliana Arango of Colombia on Court 6, the second match of the day and a huge milestone not just for her, but for Philippine tennis.Ahead of her opening-round match, Eala sat down with the international media Saturday at Roland Garros Stadium for a press conference that revealed not only her excitement and focus but also the pride she carries for her country and the weight of the expectations that come with success.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/5/25/filipino-trailblazer-eala-set-for-grand-slam-debut-in-paris-0929">Filipino trailblazer Eala set for Grand Slam debut in Paris</a></div>Asked how she feels heading into her debut, Eala spoke candidly about her emotions. &quot;I’m feeling great. Super excited. Of course, a new experience… to be in the main draw area, to do main draw things. But at the same time, just kind of prepping like I do every other tournament,&quot; she said.She emphasized that her preparation hasn&#x27;t changed despite the grand stage. Instead of focusing on big outcomes, she’s working on improving details in her game, especially on clay.&quot;This is my first clay season as a Top 100. Rome and Madrid were tough. Big opponents. So many things to just up my level—technically, physically. It’s more about being able to execute a certain level on the court,&quot; Eala added.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1748143388479viber_image_2025-05-25_08-30-18-296.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Photo: Maan Alcantara-Rivera</div><div>A new spotlight after Miami</div>After her stunning semifinal run at the 2024 Miami Open, expectations started building, not just from the public but within herself.&quot;It’s normal to have higher expectations. After Miami, things kind of came to life. Being now Top 100, now Top 70… I’m so thankful. But what keeps me focused is the day-to-day work and small details. That way, the pressure doesn’t feel so heavy,&quot; she added.She admitted that knowing one’s potential and actually delivering are two very different challenges.&quot;You can know you have the level, but executing it is another thing. Miami helped my belief—but there will be moments where results don’t help. That’s when confidence from within really matters.&quot;<div>Representing the flag</div>When asked what it feels like to be cheered on by millions of Filipinos, Eala offered a powerful and emotional response:&quot;Being Pinoy is such a big part of who I am. And I think that’s also what sets me apart from so many of these players… growing up in Manila, like nobody did it before. Nobody’s been here,&quot; she said.&quot;That’s so close to my heart. It’s brought a lot of kl joy to a lot of people who come from the same place I did. Being the first is a big deal—it gives other people courage to follow the same path.&quot;&quot;For a lot of fans in the tennis world, I’m representing our country and our people. So I do my very best to keep my emotions in check and carry myself well. Because even though I’m doing it for myself, a personal journey, people watching will see me as a reflection of our people.&quot;<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/5/25/filipino-trailblazer-eala-set-for-grand-slam-debut-in-paris-0929">Filipino trailblazer Eala set for Grand Slam debut in Paris </a></div><div>From local courts to Paris clay: a full-circle moment</div>Reflecting on how far she’s come, Alex shared a memory that grounded everything in reality. &quot;Of course, yeah, we always joke about how far we&#x27;ve come, especially when we play in these big tournaments and the facilities are amazing,&quot; she said.&quot;You know, before we would joke about how we would travel to Palawan or to Boracay, or all these places back home—Cebu, you know—and now we&#x27;re in Paris, we&#x27;re in Rome. So it&#x27;s definitely a different level, and it&#x27;s a full-circle moment when you think about it.&quot;The difference between those early grassroots events and what she’s experiencing now at Roland Garros isn’t lost on her. &quot;I mean, everything is just like so much to be grateful for. You know, where I started out—the tournaments at the beginning, like the grassroots—you know, the courts were cracked, nets were broken, fences were… they weren’t completed. And here, everything’s so detailed, everything’s so modern. And yeah, those are the things that you think about—little things that people might not appreciate as much if they grew up here.&quot;<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17481437155181748143714044.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Filipina tennis player Alex Eala at the 19th Asian Games. Handout/POC-PSC Media Pool/File</div>She added that it’s not just the courts. The entire player experience at Roland Garros feels like a world apart.&quot;They treat their players very well, obviously. There’s a lot of… things that aren’t even [expected], you know—like the beauty spa or… I don’t know. It’s just small things that really make a difference in the player experience.&quot;<div>On her mentors, idols, and being lefty</div>Though she’s been based at the Rafa Nadal Academy for nearly seven years, Alex shared that her personal exchanges with Rafa have been limited, but still meaningful in their own way.&quot;We just passed by each other—‘Hi, congrats’—nothing big,&quot; she said. &quot;But the academy is my home, and it’s not just Rafa that makes it special.&quot;When asked if he had given her any specific advice going into Roland Garros, she smiled and added. &quot;I mean, if it were as easy as advice, then I’d probably have like, 22 [Grand Slams] by now.&quot;It was a lighthearted moment, but it showed how much respect she has for the level of greatness Nadal represents—and how much she values the environment she&#x27;s grown up in at the academy.When asked about her idols, she smiled as she looked back on her early tennis memories.&quot;Maria Sharapova was my biggest idol growing up. I loved how she played, how she dressed, how she carried herself. Later, Simona Halep, Li Na… and on the men’s side, Rafa and Roger.&quot;&quot;I love being lefty. Not just for tennis—it always made me feel kind of special. It definitely has its challenges, but I see it as a blessing.&quot; <div>Rematch with Arango; a shot at redemption</div>Eala’s first-round opponent, Emiliana Arango, defeated her earlier this year in the third qualifying round of the Miami Open. Eala took the first set 6–2, but Arango stormed back to win 7–5, 6–1. Now, just two months later, they meet again—this time on one of the sport’s biggest stages, in the main draw of a Grand Slam. The stakes are higher, the crowd is larger, and Eala has momentum and pride on her side.Today, Alex steps onto one of the biggest courts of her life. But she’s not just walking onto clay—she’s walking in with her whole country behind her. &quot;I want people back home to see that I’m trying to represent us in a good light,&quot; she said.

Ahead of her opening-round match, Eala sat down with the international media Saturday at Roland Garros Stadium for a press conference that revealed not only her excitement and focus but also the pride she carries for her country and the weight of the expectations that come with success.

Ahead of her opening-round match, Eala sat down with the international media Saturday at Roland Garros Stadium for a press conference that revealed not only her excitement and focus but also the pride she carries for her country and the weight of the expectations that come with success.

Tennis: Alex Eala says 'feeling great' ahead of Grand Slam debut in Paris

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Tennis: Alex Eala says 'feeling great' ahead of Grand Slam debut in Paris

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Maan Alcantara-Rivera with Ma. Socorro De Jesus

Published May 25, 2025 11:40 AM PHT

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