Alexandra Eala has earned another major recognition after being included in the TIME100 Next 2026, a list highlighting emerging figures considered to be shaping the future.
The Filipina star was the only tennis player selected for this year’s list and was placed in the Innovators category, alongside rising figures from various fields.
Eala received a notable endorsement from 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, who wrote about the Filipina’s development, composure and approach to improving her game.
“One of her greatest strengths is precisely her ability to listen, learn, and keep improving,” Nadal wrote.
The Spanish tennis great also praised Eala’s character away from competition, describing her as “warm, approachable, and humble” while noting the challenge of dealing with rapid success at a young age.
Nadal has known Eala since she joined the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2018 at age 13. He also recalled that Eala was the first player he hit with after his retirement from professional tennis.
Eala has made significant strides in the rankings over the past year and a half. After rising from No. 140 in the WTA rankings, she climbed as high as No. 18 while establishing herself among the leading players on tour.
Her breakthrough performance came in 2025 when she reached the Miami Open final as a wildcard after defeating three Grand Slam champions during her run.
She followed that performance with her first WTA Tour title in Washington, D.C., earlier this year, further raising her profile internationally.
Eala’s rise has also generated a growing following in the Philippines and abroad, while making history as the first Filipina to break into the WTA Top 100.
Her inclusion in TIME100 Next adds another distinction to a 2026 season marked by major results and milestones. (Adrian Co)
