MANILA — Fresh from one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, Alexandra Eala credited some of the Philippines’ greatest sports icons for inspiring her historic rise after advancing to the Round of 16 for the first time in her career.
The 21-year-old Filipina made global headlines after stunning defending champion and world No. 3 Iga Świątek, 7-6(9), 6-2, on Centre Court in London, becoming one of the tournament’s breakout stars and further cementing her place among the world’s emerging tennis talents.
Following the landmark victory, Eala said the success of Filipino sporting heroes convinced her from a young age that athletes from the Philippines could compete—and win—on the biggest international stage.
“Of course, the kind of national hero in sports in the Philippines is Manny Pacquiao. And I guess he is the kind of first global athletic figure from the Philippines who I can remember and associate a lot of my childhood memories with,” Eala said.
“So when he would have fights, it would really, really be like holidays in the Philippines. So we would gather and we would watch his fights and and it would be like people would go off work, you know, it would it would really be an event. So I think he is someone super inspiring as an athlete,” she added.
Eala also pointed to Olympic champions Hidilyn Diaz and Carlos Yulo as athletes who inspired her by proving Filipinos could achieve the highest honors in international competition.
“In recent years, of course, Hidilyn Diaz, who won the first gold medal, Olympic gold medal for the Philippines, is a huge inspiration. That moment was incredible,” Eala added.
“Of course, Carlos Yulo in the most recent Olympics won two gold medals. So amazing. And of course, EJ Obiena is the pole vaulter. He’s a good friend of my family and he likes tennis.”
The Filipina tennis sensation likewise acknowledged world-class pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena, noting his friendship with her family and admiration for the sport of tennis.
Eala said Filipino athletes possess the determination and work ethic needed to compete with the world’s best.
“I feel like the Filipinos have such great work ethic. We are really hard workers. And when it counts, we can show up.”
Now carving out her own place in Philippine sports history, Eala hopes her Wimbledon breakthrough will inspire more young Filipinos—especially young girls—to chase their dreams on the global stage.
“It’s an honor to be able to pave the way for young girls and for, you know, and it would be the honor of my life to be able to inspire others,” she said./PN
