Philippines sensation Alexandra Eala explains her transition to the Rafa Nadal academy in Mallorca amid making headlines in Miami
19-year-old Alexandra Eala is making waves at the 2025 Miami Open, defeating two Grand Slam champions back-to-back.
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Alexandra Eala and Rafael Nadal (image via Instagram @rafanadalacademy)
19-year-old Alexandra Eala has had a dream run at the 2025 Miami Open so far. Entering the tournament as a wildcard, she has upset two Grand Slam champions back-to-back, defeating Jelena Ostapenko in the Round of 64 and Madison Keys in the Round of 32, after defeating Katie Volynets in the first round.
The Filipino has been training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor, Spain, since she was 13 years old. She fondly called the academy her “home for the past seven years” at the Miami Open press conference. Words of congratulations and support have been pouring in from Rafael Nadal and his academy for Eala.
It was a shock at the time, I was very young, only 13 when the decision was made, but it was significant for us. One of the deciding factors was my parents, who sent my brother with me so I would have some family nearby. They visited us occasionally, but it was an opportunity I seized from the very beginning, once I knew I had to leave the country to improve. I remember starting to play tennis because of my brother and my grandfather; my parents just wanted me to do sports, but my grandfather was a club player. Then he coached my brother and a cousin, so I was next in line. That’s how my career blossomed.
Alexandra Eala on joining Rafa Nadal Academy, via Miami Open Press Conference
The Miami Open has also witnessed a sensational performance by other players from the academy, such as Coleman Wong, who defeated 13th seed Ben Shelton, and Jaume Munar, who defeated seventh seed Daniil Medvedev in the second round. Wong will face Adam Walton in the third round of the tournament. Munar faced defeat to Gale Monfils in the third round.
Alexandra Eala becomes the highest-ranked Filipino WTA singles player
Alexandra Eala’s incredible performance in the tournament has led her to ascend to a new career-high ranking of world No. 117. She has also become the highest-ranked Filipino female singles player in WTA Tour history. Eala has reached the Round of 16 of the Miami Open without dropping a set en route. She is set to lock horns with Paula Badosa in this round.
It will definitely be a tough match. Paula has been at the forefront of the world stage for a long time, so she has a lot of experience. She’s a very good player. Regarding her back problems, I don’t think I should comment on that, so I’ll focus on putting all my attention on my own things tomorrow and continue to keep up the rhythm from the previous matches.
Alexandra Eala added
The Spaniard has reached the fourth round after defeating Victoria Mboko and Clara Tauson in the prior rounds of the tournament. Badosa had a hard-fought victory over Mboko and visibly felt discomfort due to her back injury during the second set of her match against Tauson. Eala called her opponent a “very good player” and refrained from commenting on her back problems, as she focuses on putting all attention on her performance.
Sports runs in Alexandra Eala’s family
Alexandra Eala hails from a family with a sporting background. Her mother, Rosemarie “Rizza” Maniego-Eala is a 1985 Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist in the 100-meter backstroke.
The 19-year-old is the niece of Philippine Sports Commission chairperson and former Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Noli Eala. Her elder brother, Michael, played tennis for the Pennsylvania State University Nittany Lions from 2020 to 2024.
The truth is, I’ve never had someone to look up to, there hasn’t been a Filipino tennis player who has achieved great things on the circuit in the Open Era or something like that, although I’ve had many role models in my daily life, personally. Inspiration doesn’t always have to come from someone big who did something for the Philippines. For example, young children in the Philippines don’t need to be inspired by me; they can be inspired by whoever they want, that’s what I did as I grew up.
Alexandra Eala added
Eala is a bronze medalist in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games in both singles and doubles. Like any other tennis player, Eala aims to achieve a Grand Slam and believes that her progress at the Miami Open is a good step towards where she wants to be. In her junior days, Eala was the 2022 US Open girls’ singles champion.
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