Wimbledon: 10 things to know about Philippines tennis sensation Alex Eala

 Alexandra Maniego Eala made history last week at the Eastbourne Open, becoming the first Filipina tennis player to reach a WTA Tour final. The 20-year-old dazzled fans with her powerful baseline game but ultimately fell short, squandering four championship points to finish as runner-up to Australia’s Maya Joint.

Still, her remarkable run propelled her to a career-high WTA ranking of No. 56. Eala, who trains at the Rafael Nadal Academy, has earned wins over several Grand Slam champions and continues to rise quickly through the ranks.

Here are 10 things to know about the tennis sensation, who opens her Wimbledon campaign on Tuesday against Barbora Krejcikova on Centre Court:

 1. Rising star: Eala is a young and promising tennis player from the Philippines, quickly making her mark on the pro tour.

 2. Sporting roots: Born in Quezon City, Eala comes from an athletic family—her mother, Rosemarie, represented the Philippines in swimming at the Southeast Asian Games.

 3. Early beginnings: She picked up a tennis racket at the age of four.

 4. Vogue cover star: Following her historic 2022 US Open junior title, Eala appeared on the cover of Vogue Philippines.

 5. Career milestone: She recently reached a career-high WTA ranking of No. 56.

 6. WTA breakthrough: Eala made headlines by reaching the 2025 Eastbourne Open final, a first for any Filipina player.

 7. Grand Slam debut: She made her Grand Slam main draw debut at the 2025 French Open and now returns for her first Wimbledon main draw appearance.

 8. Miami momentum: Earlier this year, she reached the semifinals of the Miami Open, defeating three Grand Slam champions en route.

 9. Rafa Nadal Academy alumna: Eala trains at the prestigious Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, where she’s developed a solid all-court game.

10. Social media presence: With over 200k Instagram followers, Eala shares glimpses of her life—from training at the Nadal Academy to exploring the beauty of Mallorca.