Eala humbled to join Phl sports greats

Already an icon in her own right, tennis star Alex Eala is humbled to have her name mentioned alongside other Philippine sports greats.

But the 20-year-old Eala deserved all the recognitions for her historic feats and continues strive to bring honor to the country.

In fact, world No. 49 netter joined Filipino sports heroes Olympic gold medalists Carlos Yulo and Hidilyn Diaz, eight-division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, and Philippine basketball living legend Robert Jaworski, among other notable athletes, in a mural at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

An old storehouse where the baseball stadium scoreboard stands had been turned into a vibrant work of art honoring top Pinoy athletes.

A creation by Archie Oclos, the mural just adjacent to the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center has become an added attraction to the inaugural staging of the Philippine Women’s Open (PWO).

The Instagramable mural greets fans as they make their way to the tennis venue to watch Eala and other local bets compete in the country’s first-ever hosting of a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 125 event.

Eala felt honored and the gesture meant a lot to her — a source of inspiration.

“I feel very flattered especially being alongside so many great names. It’s hard to grasp, especially for a mural that’s so out there,” she said when asked about her reaction to the artwork.

Eala admitted that she’s still grasping her unexpected popularity and having her image painted on a wall for the public to see is a different experience.

“It’s a first for me. I think it’s the first mural of me. It’s a new experience. It’s a new emotion,” she added.

“I am very proud to do what I can, you know (to bring more honor to the country). And I’m so happy to be alongside these great athletes.”

Now Eala looks to repay the honor by showcasing her skills on home turf in the PWO.

The tournament No. 2 seed took on Russian Alina Charaeva in the Round of 32 on Monday night.