PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Alex Eala/FB Alex Eala (middle, standing) beams with pride after graduating from the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy in Mallorca, Spain.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Alex Eala/FB Alex Eala (middle, standing) beams with pride after graduating from the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy in Mallorca, Spain.
Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala was one of around 50 students who graduated from the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain on Wednesday.
The ceremony took place within the Academy's courts with Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, and recently-crowned 2023 French Open champion Iga Swiatek, who delivered the keynote address, present during the rites.
Eala's brother Miko also graduated from the Academy in 2020 and is now playing for Pennsylvania State University in the United States.
"Right now, I don't see myself joining Division I or any — how would I say — normal college program. But I do still want to continue my education after I graduate high school, on top of my tennis career," said Eala, who studied there for five years.
"I do believe it's very important to keep the mind working and just to develop who you are as a person. If ever, I would do maybe some online courses. But I won't take the whole curriculum," she added.
'Right now, I don't see myself joining Division I or any — how would I say — normal college program.'
In her speech, Swiatek reminded the graduates to always dedicate themselves to their craft regardless if their paths lead them back to the tennis court or in other careers outside of sports.
"I often have the feeling that sometimes when I'm playing or when I'm doing things off court, that I should do them better or I should seek perfection," Swiatek said.
"But this shouldn't be the sense. We should all focus on the process and giving 100 percent, no matter what you can give, because every day is different."
In her five years in the Academy in Spain, Eala, 18, won a total of seven trophies in her singles career both in the juniors and seniors.
Her biggest win was last year's US Open where she picked up her first junior Grand Slam trophy and her recent championship was the W25 Yecla women's singles in Spain.
She has also pocketed three bronze medals in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last year in her first foray in the biennial meet.
Currently, Eala is No. 228 in the latest Women's Tennis Association rankings.
Eala is set to represent the Philippines in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October.
As for her next steps outside of the Academy, Eala previously said she wants to join more professional tournaments and skip the collegiate scene.
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