What a treat to spend some time with Alex Eala, fresh off her historic win at Wimbledon today.
She is the first Filipino to reach the Round of 16. Such an inspiration for kids in the Philippines and all over the world.
Keep going for it, Alex!
#Wimbledon
Alex Eala says she grew up playing on a court where a basketball court was painted over the tennis court
“Did you grow up on any grass courts in the Philippines? I don’t think there were many…”
Alex: “I don’t think there were any to my knowledge. No, I did not grow up on grass in the Philippines. I grew up on a court where a basketball court was painted over the tennis court. 🥹 There would be the basketball hoops. I couldn’t really step back a lot because then I would hit the basketball hoop.”
(via Wimbledon Press)
Alex Eala says she associates a lot of her childhood memories with Manny Pacquiao, ‘When he would have fights, it would really be like holidays in the Philippines. We would gather and we would watch his fights. People would call off work’
“You’ve spoken a lot about Rafa Nadal’s influence on you. But I’m curious about the Filipino athletes you maybe looked up to?”
Alex: “Of course the kind of national hero in sports in the Philippines is Manny Pacquiao. He is the kind of first global athletic figure from the Philippines who I can remember and associate a lot of my childhood memories with. When he would have fights, it would really be like holidays in the Philippines. We would gather and we would watch his fights. And it would be, like, people would call off work. It would really be event. He is someone super inspiring as an athlete.”
Alex: “In recent years, Hidilyn Diaz, who won the first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines is a huge inspiration. That moment was incredible. Of course Carlos Yulo in the most recent Olympics won two gold medals. Amazing. EJ Obiena is the pole vaulter. He’s a good friend of my family and he likes tennis. So yeah there are so many people. I feel like the Filipinos have such great work ethic. We are really hard workers. When it counts, we can show up.”
🇵🇭🥹
Alex Eala after beating Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon
“It’s obvious Centre court has fallen in love with you. You can see the flags of the Philippines here as well. What inspiration does that give you during the match?”
Alex: “It’s incredible to have my countrymen cheering me on and knowing that we’re all in this together… This goes out to them. This goes out to my family. This goes out to all the little girls with ruffled socks and chubby cheeks. It means the world.”
🇵🇭🥹
“Maybe for someone like Iga who has won so many slams … or maybe someone like Serena or Venus this achievement may seem small, but for someone who grew up in the Philippines. … for her this is everything.”
Alexandra Eala after her win ❤️