The first time I saw Alexandra Maniego Eala, she wasn’t holding trophies. She was holding a racquet almost as tall as she was.
It was October 2012 in Puerto Princesa. My daughter Jana, then 14, was playing in the Palawan Pawnshop tennis tournament. While the older girls battled it out, a tiny left-hander with two-fisted groundstrokes caught everyone’s attention.
She was just seven years old. Her name? Alex Eala.
She didn’t win. No, not yet. Not competing against boys and girls in the 10-and-under unisex division. But that didn’t matter. People were already taking notice. She was with her dad, Mike — my fellow Ilonggo — and her lolo, the late Bobby Maniego. Her older brother Miko (who would become a top Penn State varsity netter) was there too, hitting with her on the practice courts. Alex wasn’t the biggest or loudest. But she had that spark.
Fast forward 12 years later. That same little girl is now world No. 75.
Alex’s rise was steady and well-earned. Ranked among the best juniors in the Philippines in 2018, she claimed victory as a 12-year-old in France’s Les Petits As — a prestigious proving ground for future stars.
That win opened the door to the Rafael Nadal Academy. At 13, she and Miko moved to Mallorca, Spain, on a scholarship. From that point on, Alex was sculpting her game alongside the world’s best. She graduated from the academy in 2023. The guest speaker at the ceremony? Iga Swiatek.
Which brings us to last week’s Miami Open. Alex didn’t just play well — she announced herself to the world. She beat three Grand Slam champions in a row: Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek. All in straight sets. All in a WTA 1000 event.
Against Swiatek — her graduation speaker in 2023 — she played with poise and calm. She won in 97 minutes.
Rafael Nadal himself sent a message: “We are extremely proud of you, Alex. What an incredible tournament! Let’s keep dreaming.”
Next came World No. 4 Jessica Pegula. Alex had set points in the first set. Took the second. Fought hard in the third. She lost the match, yes. But she never looked out of place.
After the match, Alex waved to the crowd and smiled. If you didn’t know the score, you’d think she won. In many ways, she did. She proved she belongs. On the biggest stage and against the biggest names.
My daughter Jana stayed up until 2:30 a.m. to watch Alex’s match against Swiatek online with her Ateneo teammates. The next morning, Jana told me, “The moment Alex stepped onto the court, she already looked like the winner. She wasn’t intimidated by the moment or by her opponent.”
Alex is set to enter the 2025 Grand Slam main draws — starting with the French Open in May. A huge step forward after missing the cut in all four majors last year.
At only 19 years old, Alex is getting better. Stronger. Smarter. She now has the belief that she can compete with the world’s best. And with the continued inspiration from her parents — her mom, Rizza, is a SEA Games swimming medalist; and her dad, Mike, has been her steady guide from the start — her future is very, very exciting.
To me, what sets Alex apart isn’t just her excellent return game or powerful groundstrokes. It’s her mental toughness. She fights. She believes.
Asked last week in Miami how she did it, she said: “Take it early. Not to be afraid. Not to be afraid to miss.”
She’s not afraid. She’s ready. And she’s proudly Filipino.