Alex Eala’s reply says a lot after what Rafael Nadal said about her recent big achievement.
Alex Eala recently responded to tennis legend Rafael Nadal after he wrote a profile about her for the TIME100 Next List. This list by TIME Magazine highlights some of the world’s most promising young stars.
Eala is among many sports talents named, including Indian cricket star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Chelsea and USWNT defender Naomi Girma, and basketball player Tyrese Maxey. Each person on the list has a profile written by a well-known figure from their field, and Nadal chose to write about Eala.
Eala trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, which Nadal started in 2016. Nadal shared with TIME, “Alexandra Eala was the first player I played with after retiring. One day, she asked if I wanted to hit some balls, and for the first time in months, I picked up my racket again. At just 19, Alex beat three Grand Slam champions at the 2025 Miami Open. This year, she won the WTA 500 tournament, becoming the first Filipino player to reach the world’s top 20. She still has so much room to grow. What’s special about her is how much she listens, learns, and keeps getting better. Even more, she’s a kind, down-to-earth person. It’s hard to handle fame at such a young age, but she does it with grace. I’m excited to watch her keep improving.”
Currently ranked 18th in the WTA, Eala recently won a bronze medal at the Asian Games. She skipped the China Open to play in Nagoya and said she has “no regrets” after losing in the semifinals to China’s Wang Xiyu. That loss means she didn’t earn automatic qualification for the women’s singles at the 2028 Olympics, but she only needs to be in the top 56 by the deadline to qualify.
Speaking to the media, Eala said she was “honored” and “very grateful” that Nadal took the time to include her in the TIME list. “I’m so thankful to TIME and to Rafa himself for writing about me. It’s humbling to be among so many inspiring people. I’m really grateful,” she shared.
Eala also talked about handling her growing fame, something Nadal mentioned in his profile. Sometimes she feels overwhelmed but understands that it’s a privilege to live her childhood dreams. “I’ve learned to accept that this comes with the job, and I’m ready for the challenge,” she said.