Despite her busy schedule, Alex Eala will still find time to celebrate Christmas with her family.

No less than her father, Mike, told Daily Tribune that just like an ordinary Filipino family, they will also be celebrating Christmas together.

In fact, they will be flying to Boracay for their Christmas celebration on 24 December, two days before the 18-year-old tennis sensation leaves for Australia to compete in the WTA Canberra International.

"Christmas is always a special time of the year," Mike said, adding that they will be complete during their Yuletide celebration with his wife, Riza, and their son, Miko, who will be arriving in Manila on Monday from the United States.

"We are just fortunate and thankful that we can all be together this holiday season. It will be a Boracay Christmas for us before Alex flies off to Canberra, Australia on December 26 to start the 2024 tennis season."

Eala has been very busy lately.

Since arriving at the end of November, Eala just took a breather before buckling down to work in preparation for the main draw of the Australian Open.

She is training regularly under the watchful eyes of Rafael Nadal Academy coaches headed by Daniel Gomez at the Manila Polo Club in preparation for the qualifying tournament of the first Grand Slam event of the year that will be held in Melbourne.

If ever she makes it, it's going to be Eala's second time to see action in the Australian Open main draw. She also qualified last year but suffered an early exit after bowing to 32-year-old Misaki Doi of Japan in the opening round.

Mike said making it to the main draw will not be easy but his daughter is equipped and inspired to make it happen in a bid to see action in all four Grand Slam events.

"She needs to win three matches in the qualifiers to make it to the main draw of the Australian Open. It will be hard but I believe she can make it," Mike said.