Alex Eala named to 'TIME100 Next' list

October 4 ------ Filipina tennis star Alex Eala's rapid ascension as one of the new faces of her sport has reached another pinnacle.

Eala was included in the TIME100 Next list, TIME's annual list of the most influential rising stars across different industries worldwide. Eala was named an "Innovator," with her profile written by tennis icon Rafael Nadal.

Nadal noted that Eala "was the first player I shared a tennis court with after my retirement." "One day, she asked whether I felt like hitting with her for a while. For the first time in many months, I picked up a racket and played again," he added.

Eala has trained at Nadal's tennis academy in Mallorca since she was 13-years-old, having graduated in 2023. Two years later, Eala emerged as the WTA Tour's breakout star when she reached the semifinals of the 2025 Miami Open — a run highlighted by victories over three Grand Slam champions including then-world No. 2 Iga Swiatek.

This year, she has made more history with deep runs in Wimbledon and the US Open, as well as a first WTA Tour victory in Washington. Eala is currently ranked No. 18 — the first Filipino to make it into the Top 20.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com