DARLING OF THE CROWD

After a grueling professional campaign, it’s time for Alex Eala to give back to her fans.

And so far, she’s quite successful.

The 21-year-old netter again drew a sizable crowd during a meet-and-greet event at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, signifying the Filipinos deep appreciation to her magical run in the Wimbledon Championships recently.

Prior to the meet-and-greet activity, Eala and her parents, Mike and Rizza, dropped by Malacañang to shake the hands of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.

Then, she faced sportswriters in a press conference organized by one of her sponsors.

“I feel very seen,” Eala said.

“Hearing that come from you, I feel like all the hard work that I’ve done is seen. All the hours that aren’t on TV are seen and validated and appreciated.”

Even Marcos, a known tennis fan, couldn’t help but gush about Eala’s achievement, knowing that making it to as far as the Round of 16 of a Grand Slam event is no ordinary feat.

“I’m a fan, so I’m gushing. I’m a real fan of yours,” Marcos said.

“One day, I hope I will get the opportunity to watch you, even if it’s not a Grand Slam. Even if it’s a tournament.”

Confidence has carried Alex Eala through the biggest moments of her young career, but the Filipina tennis star insists she never reached the top on belief alone.

Eala, who is being supported by Filipino fans in every tournament she competes in until she reached the 28th spot in the Women’s Tennis Association ranking, said self-belief remains the foundation of her success. Just as important, however, is the circle of people she trusts to keep her grounded.

“I think confidence is very important. Whether you’re in the spotlight or not, it’s important,” Eala said.

“I believe in myself a lot, and that’s a core (value). It’s one of the foundations of my mentality and how I approach my competitions.”

For Eala, confidence should never be confused with arrogance. Instead, she sees it as a necessary quality for every athlete striving to compete at the highest level.

She also believes genuine confidence grows stronger when surrounded by people who are willing to celebrate victories while pointing out areas that still need improvement.

“Having good people around you and people you trust with your best interests at heart is incredibly important,” Eala said.

“They’re the ones who you trust to tell you both good and bad things. It’s the best for you. If I need to improve on something, I’ve heard it from them, or I notice it myself. I have all the right people to give me constructive criticism, who ultimately want to guide me wherever I want to go.”

That support system has remained constant throughout her rise.

Her parents have traveled with her around the world, providing unwavering encouragement regardless of the outcome of every tournament.

Her coaches at the Rafael Nadal Academy continue to help her develop physically, mentally and emotionally as she navigates the demands of the professional tour.

She also draws inspiration from Filipino fans across the globe, many of whom either packed stadiums to cheer her on or stayed awake deep into the night just to watch her matches.

Despite the growing fame that followed her Wimbledon breakthrough, Eala said she remains firmly grounded.

“Maybe a misconception that’s popping into my head… I’ve heard, I don’t know if this is true, people say that tennis players can be self-centered. I don’t think that’s true,” Eala said.

“If someone is self-centered I don’t think it’s because they are a tennis player. I think maybe they’re just being self-centered because that’s who they are.”

For Eala, believing in herself has already taken her to places no Filipina tennis player had reached before. But with the unwavering support of her family, coaches and countrymen behind her, she believes the biggest victories may still lie ahead.