Bill Simons
WTA players have long had the power to shake the world beyond the court. Billie Jean King help shift America’s cultural landscape. Li Na brought big-time tennis to China. Naomi Osaka ignited Japan.
Now Alexandra Eala has electrified the Philippines—and much of the tennis world.
The 21-year-old completed a stunning two-day comeback today, defeating world No. 3 Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 to capture the Mubadala Citi DC Open. It was Eala’s first tour-level title, and the first ever won by a Filipina. Red, white and blue Philippine flags flew.
Throughout the tourney, Eala wore green. But she’s hardly green any more. She trained at the academy created by the best left-handed man in tennis history. Already, she’s one of the best southpaws in the WTA. She’s celebrated by adoring fans around the world.
Nearly 1.2 million fans viewed her matches on YouTube. Everywhere she goes, Phili-fanatics (and we’re not talking about the ones from Philly) can barely contain themselves.
Backers gather for middle-of-the-night watch parties. Her wins spark national celebrations. Despite torrential rains, 8,000 people packed a Manila arena to watch her fourth-round Wimbledon match. Bands serenade her at airports. We’ve never seen an Eala match without Philippine flags flying.
Joao Fonseca also draws rabid fans everywhere. But, going back to Maria Bueno and Guga Kuerten, Brazil has long had its tennis champions. The Philippines – not so much.
Yes, they boasted the superb boxer, Manny Pacquiao. Filipino American Cecil Mamiit won the NCAA championships. Leylah Fernandez is of Filipino heritage.
But, come on – until Eala, Philippine tennis has been a desert. Now the nation is relishing its first female tennis icon.
Last week, Eala-mania was the hottest thing in town this side of a committee hearing that went off the rails.
Eighty per cent of ticket inquiries at the tourney were about Eala’s matches. No wonder her backers are desperate to uncover every detail. She prefers matcha over coffee. Rafa’s Uncle Toni briefly coached her, and, as a kid, she attended the Immaculate Conception Academy.
And, if you will, there’s a solid, almost immaculate feel about the way Eala is calmly handling her rise, on and off the court – no fuss.
Unlike French Open champ Mirra Andreeva, she doesn’t toss rackets about the court or drop f-bombs on fans wearing pearls.
Yes, a two-time Slam winner named Coco is the most celebrated woman in sports. But, so many of Gauff’s matches are fraught with crises. So much can go off in a flash.
While some WTA players have excelled despite family trauma, Eala’s career is based on the Philippines’ “all hands on deck” family culture. Early on, her dad traveled with her. Her mom was a competitive swimmer, her brother was a Penn State tennis player, her uncle was a hoops executive.
Most important, her grandfather, “Lolo Bob” Maniego was long her self-taught, tough-love coach who instilled discipline, mental toughness and respect.
At Wimbledon, a weepy Alexandra recalled going to practice every day with her brother and Lolo Bob, with “my ruffled socks and my light-up shoes and my chubby cheeks.”
These days, Eala’s game is lighting up the tour. She hugs the baseline, takes the ball early and strikes with compact, penetrating ease. Her backhand is clean, her anticipation keen and her return of serve elite. She reads serves early, attacks second deliveries and gladly uses an opponent’s power. Her left-handed angles pose unfamiliar questions.
Alex moves well, redirects pace superbly and rarely appears hurried. Down 5-1 against Leylah Fernandez, she calmly turned the match around.
Sure, her serve is functional, not fearsome. Her flat, early ball-striking offers limited margins. She rarely comes to net.
But Eala adeptly navigates waters others find treacherous. Emma Raducanu has endured assorted misadventures that have whiplashed her from a Slam win and huge endorsements to huge losses and a string of injuries and coaches.
In contrast, there is a quietude to Eala’s career trajectory. She remains grounded, despite being placed on a pedestal.
In 2023, world No. 1 Iga Swiatek gave Alexandra her Nadal Academy graduation diploma. Three years later, Alex toppled the Pole on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.
These days, even Eala’s foes gush. After being dismissed by her in the DC semis, Osaka said, “Alexandra’s incredible. She’s a star. And it’s just really cool to have someone like her that people can look up to…She’s such an inspiration.”
En route to a soggy Sunday, Eala won eight straight sets as she downed Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, former No. 3 Elina Svitolina and four-time Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
Sunday, in the first set, Alex squandered break points that would have given her a commanding lead. And Pegula, the savvy veteran who routinely survives such moments, surged to take the set 6-4 and gain control.
But Jessie couldn’t control the heavens.
Rain descended. The final was suspended until Monday, with Pegula leading 6-4, 1-2. Sadly – except when Goran Ivanisevic beat Pat Rafter at Wimbledon in 2001– Monday finals tend to be dreary.
Not this one. Filipinos – members of the third-largest Asian American group in the USA – returned on Monday with flags and full-throated joy. At 4-4 in the second set, everything changed. Eala hit out on her increasingly imposing forehand. Her backhand found the lines.
Suddenly, Mrs. Consistency was inconsistent. Pegula, who ordinarily gives opponents so little, now was in a giving mood. Eala put those 20 errors she’d donated in the first set in her rear view mirror. She stepped in, took the ball early, hit deep, found angles as she put Pegula on her back foot and broke Jessie’s serve with ease. Soon she evened the match 4-6, 6-4.
The pride of Buffalo was left to mumble to herself, “I had this thing. What happened?” Eala, who won the the 2022 US Open junior title, was now in the zone and playing at warp speed. Broadcaster Alison Riske-Amritraj noted, “She can do no wrong.”
As if it were just another day in a leafy Washington park, Alex won eight straight games from 4-4 in the second set, and swept the decider 6-0. She had beat all three top seeds to claim her first WTA title.
The Mamas and the Papas once sang, “Monday, Monday – can’t trust that day.” But this Monday, a charming Asian athlete full of grace and beauty made us imagine another song: “Some Enchanted Monday.”
