MANILA, Philippines — The wait is over. Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala is set to make her long-awaited Grand Slam main draw debut as a professional, having earned a direct entry to the French Open at Roland Garros from May 25 to June 8.
Following her electrifying run at the Miami Open, where she shocked the world by reaching the semifinals and toppling some of the sport’s most elite names, Eala soared from World No. 140 to a new career-high of No. 73 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings — securing her a coveted spot in the main draw of the French Open.
“I’m excited for the Grand Slams ahead, Roland Garros. I know that I will be in the main draw,” Eala said in a virtual press conference with Philippine media. “So I’m very excited about that. It’s my first time to be in the main draw. So it’s a new experience and everything to gain.”
A product of the prestigious Rafa Nadal Academy, Eala previously fell short of main draw appearances — grinding through six failed attempts in qualifiers across the Grand Slam circuit. Just last year, she reached the third round of Roland Garros qualifiers but was narrowly edged out by Julia Riera.
But 2025 is different.
Eala’s incredible performance in Miami — where she defeated Grand Slam champions Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek, and pushed World No. 4 Jessica Pegula to the brink in a thrilling semifinal — marked a turning point in her young career. That “Cinderella run” catapulted her into the WTA’s Top 75, a milestone for Philippine tennis.
“It’s a bit hard to swallow because there were such big wins,” Eala admitted. “But I’m super proud. I think that’s the word — I’m proud of myself. To be able to say that I’m in the Top 100, Top 75, and have Top 5 wins… it’s very surreal.”
Despite the euphoria, Eala remains grounded — aware that the road ahead will only get tougher. With a higher ranking comes higher expectations, stronger opponents, and more pressure to deliver.
“Of course, with [the higher ranking] comes tougher opponents and more problems, obstacles,” she said. “I think I have a good standard now. There’s a new standard for me… but it’s not going to be every week that I’ll play incredible. Time will tell, and all I can do now is prepare.”
Eala attributes much of her success to her growing mental resilience, which she says has become her biggest strength.
“I take pride in how I handled myself on court and took control of my emotions, even when I was losing,” she shared. “But I still need to work on my serve, the starts of points, and also my fitness and the overall shape of my body.”
Now 19, Eala is no stranger to Grand Slam glory at the junior level — having won two doubles titles (2020 Australian Open and 2021 French Open) and a 2022 US Open girls’ singles crown. But this upcoming Roland Garros marks her first taste of the main stage as a full-fledged pro.
Her takeaway from the Miami breakthrough? Belief.
“The biggest learning is that even the top players have weaknesses — they’re not perfect,” Eala said. “There’s always a way. If I believe in myself, I know I can push those points.”
Her next challenge comes in Portugal, where she is scheduled to play in the WTA 125 Oeiras Ladies Open starting April 14.
From a teen with a dream to a Top 75 professional making history, Alex Eala’s journey is far from over — it’s just getting started.
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