Wherever her tennis journey takes her, Alex Eala makes it a point to carry the Philippines with her.

Fresh from a historic Wimbledon campaign and a career-high No. 28 ranking in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), the 21-year-old tennis sensation said wearing the Philippine flag remains her greatest source of motivation as she continues to break barriers on the international stage.

Eala, who returned home over the weekend for a week-long break following a demanding but rewarding grass-court season, said she takes pride in representing the country in tournaments where she is often the lone Filipina in the field.

"I try my best to showcase the best of us Filipinos, and hope for the best. I know that I'm in a lot of international stages, and I'm the only Filipina in a lot of the stages that I'm in," Eala said at an event in Taguig City on Monday.

"I'm so, so proud to be Pinoy, and I think that's one thing that I share with everybody — the love of being Pinoy and the pride of being Pinoy. So, I do my best to showcase that."

Although she has yet to capture a Grand Slam singles title, Eala has already established herself among the country's sporting greats, drawing comparisons to boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, Tokyo Olympics weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and two-time Paris Summer Games gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo.

The Rafael Nadal Academy graduate also credited her parents, Mike and Rizza, for shaping the composure she displays on court, saying discipline and proper behavior were values they consistently emphasized while allowing her to express her emotions.

"My parents always gave me that space to be myself, express those emotions — the frustrations and disappointment that comes with being an athlete," Eala said.

"But one thing they never tolerated was bad behavior on court or parang nagdadabog. I think a huge part of my mental fortitude comes from the values that they instilled in my brother and me."

Eala's success has also sparked growing interest in tennis across the country, with more young Filipinos taking up the sport while opportunities continue to expand through local tournaments, including the staging of the Philippine Women's Open WTA 125 event at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex earlier this year.

For Eala, however, the greatest reward is knowing that her journey inspires others to dream.

"Sometimes it's hard to take myself that seriously. But I'm happy that I have a positive impact on the community here, and I also think of the people who have inspired me growing up for what they've done for me," she said.

"But to be able to give back, or to start building a legacy, is amazing to me. If I get to touch others' lives in a positive way, no matter how big the impact is, then I'll be very grateful."