mycupoftea

my cup of tea: sometimes green, at times, black, or a mix of different things
proudly 🇵🇭Pinoy, 🎾a tennis fan, content writer, mompreneur-wannabe

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

The Complete Package

1/4 Those who have put their bet on Alex Eala through the years are probably in cloud nine right now coz they just hit a jackpot in her. She is now one of the most bankable athletes out there. There is no longer a question about her ability to succeed in her game, it is only about how high or far she can go. Many called Eala an overhyped player even after she demonstrated her ability to beat the odds and topple tennis giants, having won 7 of her first 11 matches against top 10 players within just over a year of playing in tour-level events. But winning the Mubadala DC Open cemented her elite status and silenced many of her critics. Now, Alex Eala, I say, is truly a complete package of a star. Let’s reflect on her star quality.

(Photo: Alex Eala IG)

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

Oh I wish I can go! So near yet so far, char😝!

For sure, dudumugin ito ng Brgy. SG!

Magsibili na ng 🇵🇭flags sa Lucky Town Plaza!

[Team Dig @sbreyesdig]

Heads up, Barangay Singapore 🇸🇬 katabing barangay ng Manila! 😂🇵🇭🎾

Eala-Mania is coming to The Kallang! 🫶

#AlexEala #SingaporeTennisOpen #EalaMania #PinoyPride #TeamEala

📸 @sgtennisopen IG

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

Thank you for all the likes! Let me know which topic you like me to write about next. Let’s try the more debatable topics.😁

A. Is Alex a home-grown talent?
B. Should Alex change her Coach?

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

Tennis Fan Diaries - The Rude Filipino Fans

1/3 The Filipino fans are rude and undisciplined”, they say. Well, we can’t blame them. But allow me to give a bit of a Filipino perspective on this hot topic. After all, US Open is fast approaching. New York has some of the biggest Filipino communities in North America. And we can expect that Brgy. New York will deliver.

We are a basketball nation

Filipinos are so used to watching basketball like they’re just watching parlor games🤣; yelling, screaming and laughing are very common. Games can be so competitive and heated, funny even, that basketball fans can get crazy. Try to watch some barangay (village) basketball games in the countryside, you’ll see what I mean. Yet, tennis is unlike basketball or even boxing. Alex Eala introduced us to this traditional game and we are still learning things. So, please have some patience; we’ll get there.

(Image from PDI: Filipino fans enjoying tennis)

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

3/3 We come in groups

Many Filipinos watch tennis in groups. I saw this from the PWO WTA 125 Tournament in Manila. They bring with them their families and friends. You would often see this among Filipino fans at Eala’s matches in the Middle East, in Australia, and North America. They bring even the children and the older members (lolas and lolos). I read somewhere that some gather for reunions while watching her matches. Such only makes the event all the more exciting and celebratory. That is why you’ll often see us screaming at each other’s faces in joy every time Alex converts a point. And because we have a such deep sense of community, you’d see us sharing high fives with kababayans (fellow Filipinos) we’ve just met at the tournament.

So, yes, it may seem rude to be so loud. But believe me, we are trying our best to contain it. If we ever offended you, we apologize. But soon, as we navigate through this beautiful tennis world, we’ll eventually learn to reserve each heartfelt applause and joyful cheer only after every point, or break point, set point, match point. See, there are tons of technical stuff to learn as well. But for our girl, Alex Eala, we’ll slowly turn this basketball nation into a tennis nation. In the meantime, expect us to be so locked-in for our player and the tennis world better prepare itself for this bunch of happy people.

Philippine Women’s Open: The only Eala match I was able to watch in Manila, it was against Charaeva Round of 32

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

2/3 The excitement

Watching tennis on court is so unlike watching it on screen. My one and only chance of watching tennis was during the PWO WTA 125 and I don’t know if it’s because of the Filipino fans - coz I think we’re just too excited for WTA coming to the country, but it was the electrifying kind of exciting atmosphere.

It.was.worth.every.peso!

Kahit mahinhin ka, mapapahiyaw ka talaga.😂 (You may think you’re demure, but you’ll be drawn to scream at some point). And the reason for this is the ball going back and forth and back and forth and back again, with such a pace. When one player changes the rhythm, it creates a lull but that’s only temporary because the next hit is likely to be a smash or a drop shot. And if that’s coming from Alex’s racket, expect the roars that follow to be deafening.

(Image from ABS-CBN: Filipino fans at the PH Women’s Open)

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

Alex practicing with Dimitrov🥰
https://t.co/gfOobkv9Wf

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

The DC Champ has arrived in New York! She was practicing at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, the biggest tennis court in the world🤩🥰! She has a full schedule.

First, she’ll play mixed doubles with Félix Auger-Aliassime on Aug 24-26. She’ll also participate in the exhibition “Stars of the Open” with one of her besties Iva Jovic on the 27th.

The main draw matches starts on Aug. 30th. Go, go, girl!🥳

[US Open Tennis @usopen]

@AlexEala05 has arrived!

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

So, now we understand better the reason behind Alex’s and Coach Joan Bosch’s reactions here. Alex was sick during this time. The series of high quality matches she played from DC Open to Toronto had an impact on her. We just did not know then. We could see she was so tired after this match.

From the DC final game on that Monday, Aug. 3, they had to fly to Canada on Tuesday. She got only a day to rest on Wednesday, played Parks on Thursday and McNally on Saturday, both night matches. What a determination. I think the crowd really played its part in cheering her up.

Alex Eala and her Coach's reaction after winning the match against Caty ... https://t.co/c6xzditDGT via @YouTube

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

@silver_00321 Oh yes, sure😜 sorry so slow.🤣🙈🙈☺️

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

This is amazing. Such a beautiful painting. 🤩I’ve seen other artworks that were inspired by our Champ. So many kids are now interested in tennis because of her. We have seen the growth of the game in the country and the region, all thanks to this girl who dreamt and trained in her ruffled socks and chubby cheeks.

She is inspiring a whole nation - not just the kids but also older people. She is touching lives; her games are connecting families and communities. She’s igniting people’s creativity. Even the government and its partners are now working harder than before to create more tennis facilities and better programs for athletes.

So many things have been said. Still, we couldn’t thank her enough. Mabuhay ka, girl!🇵🇭

[News5 @News5PH]

COFFEE PAINTING PARA SA 2026 MUBADALA DC OPEN CHAMP 🏆🖌️

Ibinahagi ng artist na si Emmanuel Castil Hernandez ang likha niyang coffee painting ng Filipina tennis star na si Alex Eala.

Nilikha ito ni Hernandez bilang pagkilala sa Pinay athlete matapos makamit ni Eala ang kaniyang unang WTA 500 title sa 2026 Mubadala DC Open.

📸: Emmanuel Castil Hernandez

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

@silver_00321 Why not? Let’s ask some artists out there.😊🥰 i’m not an artist though.

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

@HugoMena19 Please follow her Instagram account @alex.eala

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

The Complete Package

1/4 Those who have put their bet on Alex Eala through the years are probably in cloud nine right now coz they just hit a jackpot in her. She is now one of the most bankable athletes out there. There is no longer a question about her ability to succeed in her game, it is only about how high or far she can go. Many called Eala an overhyped player even after she demonstrated her ability to beat the odds and topple tennis giants, having won 7 of her first 11 matches against top 10 players within just over a year of playing in tour-level events. But winning the Mubadala DC Open cemented her elite status and silenced many of her critics. Now, Alex Eala, I say, is truly a complete package of a star. Let’s reflect on her star quality.

(Photo: Alex Eala IG)

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

And Alex Eala is off to NY for the 2026 USO! All the best to you🥂🤞. We 🇵🇭 are always here cheering you on! Just do your best and take good care of your health!🥰

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

I think she reads people’s comments; also somebody within her circles do relay things to her. I know this from reading a lot of tweets - there were instances where some tweets make it into the family GC of Alex Eala. It would also be good to place those probably in her official IG account. I don’t know if she regularly checks her X account. But for sure, your insights are spot on - a bit similar from what I read or hear from those who know tennis. I am not a tennis expert so i don’t write about her game; so I write about her personality, her fan base, and her overall impact. Thank you for supporting her!🇵🇭❤️

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

Bejlek just defeated Keys. Her chances of winning this is not zero.😁

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

She will be if Bejlek or Keys won’t get the Cincy title. If one of them becomes the champ, Alex will become world no. 19, not 18. Although the poster has “as of August 19, 2026 in it, that ranking (18) is just based on the live rankings and not yet official per WTA. It’s quite misleading to say she is on track because she can’t control the movements of other players as she is already out of Cincinnati Open. No offense, I’d also love to see her moving up to 18 officially but I am more interested in her upcoming US Open performance. Let’s pray she remains in top form so she’ll continue to move up.

[Manila Standard @mnlstandardph]

EALA CLIMBS TO CAREER-BEST LIVE WTA RANKING OF NO. 18

#MSSports│FILIPINA tennis pride Alexandra “Alex” Eala is on track to reach a new career-high world ranking of No. 18 and set another milestone as the highest-seeded Filipino player in Grand Slam singles in the upcoming 2026 US Open.

Read more: https://t.co/IxvhjgINp5

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

Yes, unlikely, but not impossible😊. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.🤞🤞🤞

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

@kreyzisunshine Still figuring it out but it may be because the WTA only totals the points from the best 18 tournament results - Alex has played in 19 already, 21 if including the 125s.

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

@jivsuga It’s a learning process. It’s more like excitement.

[mycupoftea @mycupofteaph]

@a_ko_si_vm Dapat nasa poster din. Sa WTA site kase, 20 pa din sya, they update after every WTA event. Cincy is still ongoing.