FILIPINA tennis star Alexandra Eala has been featured by Sports Illustrated ahead of her appearance at the 2026 US Open in New York, with senior writer Jon Wertheim highlighting her rapid rise and growing impact in the Philippines.
In a video posted by Sports Illustrated, Wertheim described the 21-year-old Eala as one of the players worth watching after making a remarkable climb up the world rankings.
“18 months ago she wasn’t even in the top 100. Now she is in the top 20,” Wertheim said.
Eala has continued to establish herself among the world’s leading players after winning a major title on American hard courts in Washington, D.C., earlier this summer.
For Wertheim, however, Eala’s rise is only part of what makes her story compelling.
He pointed to her Filipino roots and the significance of her emergence from a country without a long-standing tennis tradition.
Eala began her development in the Philippines before moving to Spain, where she trained at the Rafael Nadal Academy. Her success has since generated a strong following among Filipino fans wherever she competes.
“Wherever she goes, she is wildly popular,” Wertheim said, noting the large number of Filipino supporters who have followed her career.
Wertheim also compared Eala’s popularity to that of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, describing her as the Philippines’ most prominent athlete since the eight-division world champion.
The Sports Illustrated senior writer also emphasized how Eala has embraced the attention that comes with becoming a national sports figure.
“She has really embraced taking a nation with her on her journey,” Wertheim said.
Rather than shying away from the expectations attached to representing more than 100 million Filipinos, Eala has welcomed her role as a representative of the country on the global tennis stage.
Eala will now turn her attention to the US Open, where she enters the Grand Slam as the No. 17 seed.
Wertheim said her performance in New York, as well as the level of support she receives from Filipino fans, will be worth watching.
“A player to watch in many senses of the word,” he said. “Keep an eye on Alexandra Eala.” (Adrian Co)
