WHAT classification best fits Alex Eala as an athlete? Royalty or marquee? How about heralded?
For sure, Eala is not a prodigy, contender, or unheralded. She was never a journeyman. Let me first discuss why these classifications no longer apply to Eala.
Eala is no longer a prodigy, as prodigies are usually young athletes with good or outstanding skills. And they are largely seen to be on their way to the top.
Eala was tagged a prodigy when she started beating top 10 players and Grand Slam champions.
Contender is also inappropriate for Eala, as that label refers to those who can contend or fight for a title, or beat a champion.
In the world of boxing, these refer to those who deserve to step into the ring with champions.
Contenders are not necessarily prodigies, as there are serious competitors who are no longer young. However, prodigies can be contenders.
And Eala has already beaten a good number of top 10 and former Grand Slam champions. So, she is no longer a contender.
Unheralded means not being popular to a point of being lowly regarded. However, unheralded does not mean a player is not good or is without potential. Unheralded can also mean an athlete is not known yet, but has tons of potential.
So, unheralded athletes can also be lurking in the shadows and are ready to break out anytime.
Eala was considered unheralded when she was ranked outside the top 100. Very few Filipinos knew of her then.
Journeyman is one of the most denigrating terms used in sports, particularly in boxing. These refer to athletes who have aged and never made it to the top, and have been on a “journey” of sorts.
However, there are journeymen who win late in the game and they deserve respect for that.
So, is Eala royalty, marquee, or heralded?
Heralded can mean a lot of things, from having a high level of fame backed by solid credentials, to being nothing but hype.
My thesis (or anti-thesis) here is Eala is more than heralded now. Before 2026, we can consider Eala more of a heralded tennis figure. But don’t tell me Eala is only hype.
Can Eala be classified as a marquee? My answer is a resounding “yes.”
Marquee athletes belong to the tier or group beneath the established elites, and have made a great impact on the sport.
Marquee players also have solid credentials, and this includes beating the top guns. They are also athletes who give us exciting moments, and are crowd favorites. Hence, they are also the “darling of the crowd.”
Marquee players can also include those who have no championships but have shown remarkable competitiveness in the sport, by giving the established elites a run for the money.
They fill the stands with followers and diehard fans.
In the NBA, there are a lots of marquee players who never won championships but command utmost respect: Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, Allen Iverson, among many others.
And Eala’s beating a good number of top 10 players and Grand Slam champions — including 2026 Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina and 2026 Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek in their third match — stamps her class as a marquee player.
She also beat top 10 player Elina Svitolina twice.
Now, can Eala be considered part of tennis “royalty.”
My answer is, not yet.
Royalty refers to the elites, the kings and queens of the game.
In boxing, names like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. formed part of the sport’s royalty. They were the kings or emperors, hence the term “royalty.”
In tennis, those who have the right to be called royalty are those who have won multiple championships at the 500, 1000 and Grand Slam levels.
Even players who have yet to win a Grand Slam but have stamped their class over the years by winning multiple titles can be considered part of tennis royalty.
Svitolina is one of them.
Besides Svitolina, current women’s tennis royalty includes Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, Swiatek and Rybakina.
I am sure that there are those who will call me crazy or insane for saying Eala is a marquee player.
And there are those who will say that I should have classified Eala as royalty. But please — spare me from arguments saying that Eala is unheralded or just a contender.
Eala worked hard to be part of the sport’s marquee class. Respect her for that.