Alexandra Eala has enjoyed a real breakout season on the WTA Tour, having catapulted herself into the limelight and contention for titles.
It marked a huge step up for the Filipino, but one she has taken in her stride, impressing on some of the biggest stages that the sport has to offer.
Ironically, her rise began at one of those elite-level tournaments, bursting onto the scene as she reached the semi-finals of the Miami Open against all the odds.
Having gained entry as a wildcard, Alexandra Eala beat superstars like Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek, before seeing her run cut short by Jessica Pegula.
Despite all the delight and fanfare that came with such a stunning run, there was one high-profile name keen to make sure she did not get carried away with this moment.
The former Grand Slam champion who offered Alexandra Eala advice
The player in question was actually a former Grand Slam champion too, thus making any advice she had to give like gold dust for a player as inexperienced as Eala.
However, Bianca Andreescu admitted that, when she won the US Open title in 2019, she lacked the support system needed to cope.
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The 25-year-old was keen to ensure Eala did not suffer from the same struggles she did.
Andreescu said, earlier this year: “I met her in Thailand, I think it was two years ago, and I remember watching her play and I knew she was going to be good.
“She’s a really good person, and if I put myself in her shoes, in a way – obviously it’s different – but I want to be honest, I didn’t have anybody reach out to me.
“And nobody was friendly with me on the tour; no one would say hi to me, and I told myself, no, I don’t want the next generation to feel that way. I know it’s like a competitive environment, but at the same time, us women, we’re the only ones that really understand each other, as much as possible.”
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“So I reached out to her, and she knows she can come to me.”
Such has been her rise that Eala was seen practising with Rafael Nadal late last month.
Alexandra Eala’s stunning breakthrough in 2025
Miami was not the only tournament where Eala excelled in 2025, despite it being the one that really put her on the map.
After all, as she continued to topple records for her nation, the 20-year-old actually reached the final of a WTA event too.
Sadly, she lost to fellow youngster Maya Joint in a dramatic third-set tiebreak, squandering championship points that would have cemented her legacy forever.
Alas, she remains the first player from the Philippines to reach a tour-level final, and the highest-ranked Filipino in history too.
The promise and talent are both there in abundance. It will be interesting to see how Eala builds on it in 2026.
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