Alex Eala, ibinahagi ang hirap na pinagdaanan matapos ang masakit na pagkatalo sa US Open
- Alex Eala opened up about the emotional difficulty of losing to Iva Jovic in the third round of the US Open
- The Filipina tennis star said she remained proud of her team's work despite the painful result
- Eala acknowledged the pressure of representing the Philippines but views it as motivation to become a better person and athlete
- She is scheduled to return to the WTA circuit at the Wuhan Open, where she will be seeded
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Filipina tennis star Alex Eala opened up about the emotional toll of her US Open defeat, explaining how she eventually regained perspective and why she continues to believe in the progress she and her team are making.
Source: Youtube
In an interview with former world No. 1 and five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova, Eala reflected on her third-round match against fellow young tennis player and friend Iva Jovic. Despite falling short in a closely contested encounter, the Filipina remained proud of her performance and the opportunities she had to secure a victory.
Eala lost to Jovic, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5. Nevertheless, the result marked her best finish at the US Open, improving on her second-round exit in 2025.
“I had a tough loss here in the US Open. I think I played really well and I had my chances to win–– I definitely had my chances to win,” she shared.
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The loss was particularly difficult because Eala believed she had played well enough to win. However, as she processed the disappointment, she shifted her attention toward the people who had supported her throughout her journey.
“I had a very difficult time after the loss, especially the first few moments after but then you know. As time went by, I just looked at my team and I’m so proud of the work that we’ve put in. I know we’re on a good path and I think it’s the belief, it’s the self-belief, it’s the belief that my team has in me,” she said.
Rather than viewing the defeat solely as a setback, Eala recognized the significance of competing at one of tennis' biggest tournaments and creating opportunities to challenge top-level opponents.
“The way I see it, it’s so much better to lose having those chances–– on Arthur Ashe, third round of US Open, than in a 25K, middle of nowhere,” she added.
During the conversation, Sharapova also asked Eala about the expectations surrounding her achievements as a Filipino athlete. As the first Filipino to reach such milestones in professional tennis, Eala understands that her performances carry meaning beyond her individual career.
“It can get heavy, it can and it definitely comes with pressure. One thing about this whole journey of support that I’ve been getting is I understand the weight that the representation holds and I know that there’s a big audience that looks up to me,” she admitted.
Despite recognizing the demands that come with being a role model, Eala explained that the responsibility also encourages her to examine her own values and personal development. She wants to ensure that the example she sets is genuine rather than simply meeting other people's expectations.
“But, I guess, it forces me to look inward as well and I’ll die on a hill saying that you need to be genuine. So that makes me look at myself and be like I want to be the best version I could be of myself, you know? So that I’m genuinely a good example for whoever looks up to me,” she maintained.
Eala also emphasized her desire to represent Filipino culture and the people who continue to support her career with respect and sincerity.
“You know, I try to do my best and represent my culture and these people–– these lovely people–– the way they deserve to be represented,” she ended.
Following her US Open campaign, Eala is expected to return to the WTA circuit this month for the Wuhan Open in China, where she will be seeded. Her upcoming appearance offers another opportunity to build on her progress as she continues competing on the international stage.
Alex Eala is a trailblazing Filipina professional tennis player who made history as the first player from the Philippines to win a junior Grand Slam singles title and capture a WTA Tour singles title. Hailing from Quezon City with a rich athletic family background, she trained at the prestigious Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain and has continued to shatter records by climbing into the top 20 of the global WTA rankings.
In another report, Mark Leviste posted a video capturing the incident involving Alex Eala and a spectator at the Asian Games. The tennis player confronted the fan after a hat was allegedly thrown toward her. Upon reviewing the footage he recorded, Leviste noticed that the hat appeared to have been thrown twice.
Meanwhile, June Ducat spoke out after receiving criticism over the appearance of a statue inspired by Alex Eala that went viral online. Ducat apologized to the tennis star and explained that the artwork was intended to honor and show support for Filipino athletes. He also clarified that the statue had already been displayed at his resort before Eala gained widespread recognition.
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