MANILA, Philippines — Coming back home after a historic Wimbledon run reminded Filipino tennis ace Alexandra "Alex" Eala of what she carries and represents at the international level.
Eala said the warm reception by Filipino fans and their stories of how she inspires them touched her on a deeper level.
That is what the 21-year-old will carry in her buildup for the US Open after becoming the first Filipino singles player to reach the Wimbledon fourth round.
"That’s a wrap on Manila," Eala wrote in an Instagram story Monday, the same day she left Manila for the United States.
"Maraming salamat sa pagtanggap sa akin mga kababayan (Thank you for giving me a warm welcome fellow Filipinos)! Each and every one of your stories has touched me on a profound level.
"I leave with a refreshed memory of what I carry when I’m out there playing tennis. And wow is it a privilege to be part of something bigger than myself. Never been prouder to represent home."
In another story, Eala shared a photo of her interacting with an erderly fan on a wheelchair, carrying a piece of paper with a message:
"Hi, Alex Eala! I got better because you are an inspiration to all Filipinos. Thank you. Lord, thank You for giving us Alex. She is a gift from You."
The fan must be one of the lucky ones to meet Eala up close in her grand meet-and-greet activity in Makati last Wednesday -- the final installment of her homecoming week.
Eala will begin her US Open buildup with the Mubadala D.C. Open in Washington D.C. from July 27 to August 2.
After Mubadala D.C., Eala will next compete in two 1000 events which are the National Bank Open in Toronto, Canada and the Cincinnati Open in Ohio, United States.
The Toronto tournament will run from August 2 to 13 while the Ohio competition will swing from August 11 to 23.
The US Open -- the final Grand Slam of the year -- is slated from August 23 to September 13.
