Alex Eala Biography: Wikipedia, Height, Age, Ranking, Parents, Net Worth, Siblings, Medals, Family
Alexandra Maniego Eala, widely known as Alex Eala, is a Filipino professional tennis player who has established herself as one of the most successful athletes in Philippine history. Born on May 23, 2005, in Quezon City, Philippines, she hails from a sporting family; her mother, Rizza Maniego-Eala, was a bronze medalist in swimming at the 1985 Southeast Asian Games, and her brother, Miko Eala, is also a competitive tennis player. Her potential was recognized early, leading her to move to Spain at the age of 12 to train at the prestigious Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, a pivotal step that accelerated her development into a world-class athlete.
Eala first gained global recognition during her stellar junior career, where she shattered multiple glass ceilings for Philippine tennis. She became the first Filipino to win a junior Grand Slam singles title when she captured the 2022 US Open Girls’ Singles championship without dropping a single set. Prior to that historic singles victory, she had already proven her prowess in doubles, winning two junior Grand Slam titles: the 2020 Australian Open Girls’ Doubles with Priska Madelyn Nugroho and the 2021 French Open Girls’ Doubles with Oksana Selekhmeteva. These achievements propelled her to a career-high junior ranking of world No. 2.
Transitioning to the professional circuit, Eala continued to make history. After steadily climbing the rankings through successes on the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour—where she won multiple titles including the W100 in Vitoria-Gasteiz—she had a breakout season in 2025. During this period, she reached the semifinals of the Miami Open (a WTA 1000 event) as a wildcard, securing monumental victories over top-tier players like Madison Keys and World No. 2 Iga Świątek. This run made her the first Filipino to reach a semifinal at a WTA 1000 event and the first to defeat a reigning major champion in the Open Era.
By late 2025, Eala had cemented her status as a rising star in women’s tennis. She reached her first WTA Tour-level final at the Eastbourne International and captured her maiden WTA 125 title at the Guadalajara Open. These performances vaulted her into the WTA Top 50, marking the highest ranking ever achieved by a Filipino female tennis player. Beyond the tour, she has remained a key figure for her national team, winning multiple medals at the Southeast Asian Games and ending a long medal drought for the Philippines at the Asian Games with bronzes in both singles and mixed doubles.
Quick Facts
Age, Nationality, and Hometown
Born on May 23, 2005, Alex Eala is currently 20 years old. She is a proud national of the Philippines, carrying the country’s flag in every tournament she enters. While she spends the majority of her year traveling the globe for the WTA Tour or training in Spain, her hometown remains Quezon City, Philippines. Despite her international success, she maintains a strong connection to her roots, often returning to Manila to spend time with family and represent the Philippines in regional events like the Southeast Asian Games.
Early Life and Family Background
Parents and Sporting Lineage
Alex Eala’s athletic prowess is deeply rooted in her genetics. Her mother, Rizza Maniego-Eala, was a celebrated national athlete in her own right. Rizza was a competitive swimmer who won a bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke at the 1985 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. After retiring from sports, Rizza transitioned into the corporate world, serving as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Globe Telecom for nearly a decade until her retirement in 2024.
Her father, Michael “Mike” Eala, is a corporate executive who has been instrumental in managing Alex’s career and travel. The sporting connection extends further to her uncle, Noli Eala, who served as the chairperson of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Siblings and Childhood
Alex is the younger of two children. Her older brother, Michael “Miko” Eala, is also a competitive tennis player. Miko played NCAA Division I tennis for the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) Nittany Lions from 2020 to 2024 and was a scholar at the Rafa Nadal Academy alongside Alex. Growing up, Alex often tagged along to her brother’s training sessions at the Valle Verde Country Club. She picked up a racquet at the age of four, initially just to bond with her family, but her natural aptitude for the sport was immediately apparent.
Education and The Move to Spain
Eala began her education at the Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA) in San Juan, Metro Manila, and later attended Colegio San Agustin (CSA) in Makati. However, her trajectory changed forever at age 12. After dominating the local 12-and-under circuit and winning the prestigious Les Petits As tournament in France (a tournament previously won by legends like Rafael Nadal and Kim Clijsters), she caught the eye of scouts from the Rafa Nadal Academy (RNA).
In 2018, she accepted a full scholarship to move to Manacor, Mallorca, Spain. This move required immense sacrifice, leaving her home and comfort zone at a tender age. At RNA, she balanced rigorous tennis training with her academic studies, eventually graduating from the Rafa Nadal International School in June 2023.
Junior Career: Making History
Grand Slam Doubles Glory
Eala’s junior career was nothing short of spectacular. She first made global headlines in January 2020 at the Australian Open. Partnering with Indonesia’s Priska Madelyn Nugroho, Eala won the Australian Open Girls’ Doubles title, defeating the pair of Živa Falkner and Matilda Mutavdzic in the final. This victory ended a decades-long drought for the Philippines in Grand Slam events.
She followed this up in 2021 by capturing her second major title at the French Open Girls’ Doubles. Playing alongside Russia’s Oksana Selekhmeteva, the top-seeded duo dominated the field, defeating Maria Bondarenko and Amarissa Kiara Tóth in the final. These victories propelled her to a career-high junior ranking of World No. 2 in October 2020.
The Historic 2022 US Open Victory
The crowning jewel of her junior career came in September 2022. Entering the US Open Girls’ Singles tournament as the No. 10 seed, Eala played flawless tennis. She marched to the final without dropping a single set. In the championship match, she faced the No. 2 seed, Lucie Havlíčková of the Czech Republic. Displaying maturity beyond her years, Eala defeated Havlíčková 6–2, 6–4, becoming the first Filipino in history to win a junior Grand Slam singles title. Her tearful victory speech, delivered partly in Tagalog (“Buong puso ko itong ipinaglaban para sa inyo” – I fought for this with all my heart for you), endeared her to millions of fans back home.
Professional Career
Professional Debut and Early ITF Titles (2020–2022)
Alex Eala officially turned professional in March 2020. Her transition to the pro circuit was steady and deliberate. She claimed her first professional title in January 2021 at the W15 Manacor tournament, winning on the hard courts of her training ground in Spain.
In 2022, she stepped up to the W25 level, winning the W25 Chiang Rai title in Thailand. During this period, she also began testing the waters of the WTA Tour, receiving wildcards for the qualifying rounds of the Miami Open and Madrid Open. Although wins at the top level were initially elusive, these experiences were crucial for her development, exposing her to the pace and power of Top 100 players.
2023 Season: Asian Games and Consistency
The 2023 season was defined by consistency on the ITF tour and national duty. Eala won two more ITF titles: the W25 Yecla in Spain and the W25 Roehampton in the UK.
Her biggest highlight of the year came at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou (held in September 2023). Representing the Philippines, Eala ended a 17-year medal drought for the country in tennis. She secured a Bronze Medal in Women’s Singles, pushing the eventual gold medalist and World No. 23 Zheng Qinwen to three tight sets in the semifinals (1–6, 7–6, 3–6). She added a second Bronze Medal in Mixed Doubles alongside partner Francis Casey Alcantara.
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2024 Season: W100 Title and Breaking Top 150
In 2024, Eala’s game matured significantly. She focused on higher-tier ITF events to boost her ranking. Her perseverance paid off in July 2024 when she won the biggest title of her career to date: the W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain. She defeated Victoria Jiménez Kasintseva in the final, a victory that vaulted her into the WTA Top 150 for the first time. She also found success in doubles, winning the W50 Pune and W75 Croissy-Beaubourg titles, showcasing her versatility as an all-court player.
2025: The Breakout Season
The 2025 season marked Alex Eala’s arrival as a top-tier global talent.
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Miami Open Semifinal Run: In March 2025, entering the Miami Open (WTA 1000), Eala produced a Cinderella run that shocked the tennis world. As a qualifier, she defeated Top 10 stalwarts, including a stunning straight-sets victory over World No. 5 Madison Keys and a career-defining upset of World No. 2 Iga Świątek in the quarterfinals. Although she bowed out in the semifinals, this performance made her the first Filipino to reach the semis of a WTA 1000 event.
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WTA 125 Title: She captured her maiden WTA Challenger title in September 2025 at the Guadalajara Open 125, defeating Panna Udvardy in the final (1–6, 7–5, 6–3).
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Grand Slam Main Draws: 2025 saw Eala become a regular fixture in Grand Slam main draws. She played in the First Round of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and reached the Second Round of the US Open, proving she belongs on the biggest stages.
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Ranking Milestones: Following her runner-up finish at the Eastbourne International (WTA 250) and her consistent performance throughout the year, Eala reached a historic Career-High Ranking of No. 50 on November 3, 2025.
Major Achievements, Medals & Titles
WTA 125 & ITF Circuit Titles
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WTA 125 Guadalajara Open (2025): Champion (Singles)
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W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024): Champion (Singles)
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W25 Roehampton (2023): Champion (Singles)
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W25 Yecla (2023): Champion (Singles)
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W25 Chiang Rai (2022): Champion (Singles)
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W15 Manacor (2021): Champion (Singles)
National Team Medals
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Asian Games 2022 (Hangzhou):
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Bronze Medal – Women’s Singles
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Bronze Medal – Mixed Doubles (w/ Francis Casey Alcantara)
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Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games):
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3x Bronze Medalist (2021 Vietnam – Singles, Mixed Doubles, Team)
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Junior Grand Slam Titles
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US Open 2022: Girls’ Singles Champion
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French Open 2021: Girls’ Doubles Champion
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Australian Open 2020: Girls’ Doubles Champion
Personal Life
Relationships
Alex Eala has generally kept her private life low-key, but her relationship with Hong Kong tennis player Coleman Wong was a subject of public interest. The two met while training at the Rafa Nadal Academy. They publicly confirmed their relationship during the 2024 US Open, where Wong was seen supporting Eala from her player box. However, by early 2025, reports surfaced that the pair had parted ways to focus on their respective blossoming careers, a split fueled by social media unfollows and confirmed by Wong in interviews.
Hobbies and Interests
Off the court, Alex is a self-described “homebody.” She enjoys watching horror and comedy movies, citing Modern Family as one of her favorite shows. A true Filipino at heart, she has expressed her love for rice, ice cream, and milk tea. She is also an avid traveler, noting in interviews that much of her earnings are spent exploring the cultures of the countries she visits for tournaments.
Net Worth and Earnings
As of December 2025, Alex Eala’s estimated net worth is approximately $2 Million USD.
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Prize Money: Her career prize money on the WTA and ITF tours stands at over $1,363,685, with a significant chunk ($907,777) earned during her breakout 2025 season.
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Endorsements: Eala is a highly marketable athlete. She has long-standing sponsorship deals with Globe Telecom (which has supported her since age 8) and Nike (apparel and footwear). She uses Babolat racquets. In 2025, following her Top 50 breakthrough, she attracted interest from international beauty and lifestyle brands, further boosting her income.
Conclusion
Alex Eala’s journey from the clay courts of Manila to the hard courts of the US Open and the Miami Open is a story of grit, sacrifice, and unyielding belief. At just 20 years old, she has already achieved what no other Filipino tennis player has, shattering glass ceilings with every serve and volley. Her historic 2025 season, highlighted by Top 10 wins and a Top 50 ranking, suggests that her best tennis is still ahead of her. As she continues to compete against the world’s best, Alex Eala remains a proud ambassador for the Philippines, inspiring a new generation to dream big and aim for global excellence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alex Eala’s current world ranking?
As of December 2025, Alex Eala is ranked No. 53 in the world by the WTA. She achieved her career-high ranking of No. 50 in November 2025.
Has Alex Eala ever won a Grand Slam?
As a professional, she has not yet won a Grand Slam. However, she is a Junior Grand Slam Champion, having won the 2022 US Open Girls’ Singles title, the 2021 French Open Girls’ Doubles, and the 2020 Australian Open Girls’ Doubles.
Who is Alex Eala’s coach?
Alex is primarily coached by Joan Bosch, a head coach at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain. She also receives mentorship from the academy’s team, including occasional interactions with Rafael Nadal himself.
Who are Alex Eala’s parents?
Her parents are Rizza Maniego-Eala, a former SEA Games bronze medalist in swimming and former CFO of Globe Telecom, and Mike Eala, a business executive.
Is Alex Eala in a relationship?
As of late 2025, Alex Eala appears to be single. She was previously in a relationship with Hong Kong tennis player Coleman Wong, but the couple reportedly broke up in early 2025.
Where does Alex Eala train?
Alex trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain. She has been a scholar there since 2018.
How tall is Alex Eala?
Alex Eala stands at 1.75 meters (5 feet 9 inches) tall.
What is Alex Eala’s biggest win?
Her biggest win by ranking occurred in March 2025 at the Miami Open, where she defeated World No. 2 Iga Świątek in the quarterfinals.
Did Alex Eala go to college?
No, Alex Eala turned professional in 2020 at the age of 14 and did not attend college. She completed her high school education at the Rafa Nadal International School.
How much is Alex Eala’s net worth?
Her estimated net worth is around $2 million, derived from her $1.3 million+ in career prize money and endorsements with brands like Nike, Globe, and Babolat.
