Metro Manila, Philippines – Alex Eala gave the Filipino crowd a night to remember as she overpowered Russia’s Alina Charaeva in her first match on home soil after nearly a decade.
Eala swept Charaeva in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, to advance to the Philippine Women’s Open Round of 16 on Monday, Jan. 26, at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila.
Eala’s homecoming moment beautifully captured her evolution as a tennis player: from a promising junior hungry to prove herself to a professional athlete who is carrying the hopes of a struggling nation.
“It really holds a special place in my heart. It’s my first ever professional match at home and I was able to spend it around family, supporters, and surrounded with love. So it’s very special,” she said to members of the media who waited for hours following her win.
The Philippine Women’s Open exists largely because of Eala. Her influence has elevated the local tennis scene to heights that a few imagined.
With the praises she is getting and pressure that follows her wherever she goes, Eala will continue to do what she does best – break barriers on the global stage.
“I do my best because I know that, especially in international stages, I represent quite a big demographic and it’s such an honor to have this support and this community rally behind me. So I do my best to give back to them and do what I can through my tennis and through my hard work,” she said.
