I THOUGHT a big win was on the way for Alexandra “Alex” Eala, as her biggest appearance to date — the Australian Open — saw her score 0-6 against American opponent Alycia Parks in the first set of their match.
But Parks fought her way back, getting the next two sets — 6-3 and 6-2 — to advance to the round of 32. To me, and many Filipino sports fan, this was a heartbreaker.
Eala’s loss was witnessed by a packed gallery made up largely of Filipinos living in Australia, cheering their hero every step of the way.
And when you ask Filipinos why they migrate or relocate to developed countries, their answer will most likely be, “to seek better opportunities.”
Deep inside, that may actually mean, “The Philippines has turned into a hellhole.” Well, that’s another matter for discussion.
But on the very day their beloved Eala stepped into the court to battle Parks, these Filipinos proved they are still 100 or even 101 percent Filipino despite detaching themselves physically from their motherland.
And Eala was their sports hero.
So, that is also what Eala has to bear now — not only is she a sports idol — she is also a hero amid the rottenness being uncovered in our country, caused by the very people we Filipinos have trusted to serve, but instead betrayed us. Their names are all over the papers and social media. Mentioning their names is not worth it.
Recalling Manny Pacquiao’s monumental rise to hero status during the peak of his boxing career, I can draw similarities on how he and Eala became the beacons of hope and heroism amid the most trying times the nation had to go through.
As Pacquiao tore mercilessly through several divisions in boxing at the international stage, the administrations in power were rocked by scandals and perceptions of incompetence. I need not mention these anymore, as witnessing something worse than those scandals that rocked the nation years back can cause any Filipino to suffer from mental anguish. Count me in.
And Pacquiao was a monster, a once-in-a-lifetime boxer who up to now invites debates as to who is the greatest boxer in this modern era. Juan Manuel Marquez may have knocked him out once and Floyd Mayweather Jr. decisioned him (well, that is still debatable), but Pacquiao’s style in the ring, punctuated by merciless combos that felled and baffled many opponents, speaks volume of his being a monster or “halimaw” in the ring.
His getting elected to public office also showed how much of a hero he became during his peak. There lies the crux of the matter — hero worship has been part of the Filipino culture, and with social media, this can go overboard.
So, who is the country’s top hero now amid the fact that the very people who took their oaths to serve us are turning out to be our worst nightmares.
Obviously, it’s that girl named Alex.
But unlike Pacquiao, Eala is not a monster. A monster in the tennis world would be somebody like a prime Serena Williams.
Eala may be no monster. But beneath that graceful demeanor are qualities Filipinos so badly want to see in our leaders — patriotism, willing to put in the hard work to earn money and prestige, courage to overcome obstacles and challenges, and the qualities to inspire a nation.
And here is the catch. What many casual sports fans may not know is top tennis players do not earn as much as the top professional basketball players, boxers and even MMA fighters. The richest tennis player earned more than $40 million last year. Compare that to the boxing’s top fighters who earn $20 million to $40 million from just one fight.
So, Eala, despite her feats in the international stage, has not yet earned the amount of money to buy a super car and a mansion in the United States (with pun intended).
Eala also has to hire trainers to keep her sharp and top trainers do not charge small change.
I can say that tennis can be a “negative ROI” sport, similar to weightlifting, athletics and gymnastics, where the practitioners are more likely to spend more than they earn, counting in taxes deductions of their prize winnings, too.
Unless you are Maria Sharapova, who earned millions from commercial endorsements, the earnings of tennis players can be measly compared to their ranking and popularity.
So, what is in Eala’s mind?
Why is Eala pursuing tennis glory if it cannot guarantee her a huge fortune?
The answer is simple: Legacy.
Legacy to make Filipinos proud, and for her name to be etched as the first Filipina to play and win at the elite level of her sport. And to inspire and show the true potential of the Filipino.
Eala, however, has a long way to go to reach the apex. But time is on her side, as she is only 20 years old and full of determination.
Her popularity also seems to have reached insane levels for a player of her caliber. As reported over social media, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka’s pre-match press conference at the 2026 Australian Open got less than 10,000 views over the official AO YouTube channel, and her first-round post-march press conference around 5,200 views.
Meanwhile, Eala’s pre-match presscon got 185,000 views and her post-match 81,000 views.
Those comparative figures hit me like a rock.
But Eala is not hot air, as she was the 2022 US Open Junior Champion and defeated three grand slam champions at last year’s Miami Open. I can mention more of her feats.
To global fans noticing and following her, Eala belongs to that special class of sports figure who are underdogs, unpredictable, not conventional, and not brutally efficient, who are watched because they offer theater and not just a sports match.
As Eala fights on, it is obvious over social media that more and more Filipinos are joining her “rah rah” team. She also has her share of critics and bashers, but that is normal for any rising sports figure.
In contrast, more and more netizens have taken to social media to denigrate some so-called public servants who have become part of the country’s laughingstock.
God bless their souls.
