In the world of professional tennis, new stars often emerge with a flash of brilliance, but few have carried the hopes of an entire nation quite like Alex Eala, and now the 20-year-old is lighting up the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open.

Eala has played two games so far at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, the first was a doubles match with Chinese Taipei’s Angel Chan Hao-ching, which they lost to Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Kamilla Rakhimova.

But, despite the 3-6, 6-1, 10-7 scoreline, the Filipino community in Hong Kong descended on Victoria Park Center Court in their hundreds to cheer for their new hero.

“I think the Filipinos really showed up and showed out,” Eala said. “And any fans from Hong Kong or from Taipei or wherever, I’m just welcome if you cheer for us. Thank you. I love it.

“I’m so happy that the crowd was there. I think that it influenced the atmosphere a lot, and I think it pumped us up at certain points.”

On Tuesday, Eala played a full-throttle match against Katie Boulter, but the tie was cut short when the Briton withdrew with injury. The crowd in that match was even bigger than the one that turned out for her doubles one. When she plays the tournament’s No 3 seed, Victoria Mboko, on Thursday night, the atmosphere is set to be one of the best of the event so far.

“It’s the first time I’ve competed in a WTA or any professional tournament here [in Hong Kong],” Eala said. “But I would come here often as a kid.

“For me, it’s such a pleasure to be able to experience these kinds of atmospheres … I just try to enjoy every moment. Because it’s not every day that you feel this, this atmosphere, this many people.”

Born on May 23, 2005, into a family steeped in athletic achievement, Eala’s path seemed almost preordained. Her mother, Rizza Maniego-Eala, was a national swimmer and a 1985 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games bronze medalist, while her older brother, Miko, played collegiate tennis in the United States. Eala first picked up a racquet at the age of four, tagging along to her brother’s lessons. What began as family recreation, guided by her grandfather, quickly revealed itself as a prodigious talent.

Her potential was so evident that at just 12 years old, she made a life-changing decision: she accepted a scholarship to the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain – the same academy that Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong Chak-lam attends.

The move to Spain paid immediate dividends. Eala’s game, built around an aggressive baseline style and a formidable two-handed backhand, began to flourish on the international junior circuit.

In 2018, aged 12, she won the prestigious Les Petits As, a tournament considered an unofficial world championship for the 14-and-under age group. This victory announced her as a name to watch. She followed it up by capturing her first junior Grand Slam title at the 2020 Australian Open in girls’ doubles. She added a second doubles crown at the 2021 French Open.

However, her crowning achievement as a junior came at the 2022 US Open. Eala tore through the girls’ singles draw, culminating in a dominant finals victory. With that win, she etched her name in history as the first Filipino player to win a junior Grand Slam singles title.

“It’s a very competitive field everywhere, and I’ve been playing doubles forever,” Eala said earlier this week in Hong Kong. “I won some junior slams in doubles, so it’s not my first rodeo, either. And I think that if anything, doubles helps your singles as long as you plan it well.”

Eala seamlessly translated her junior success to the professional ranks. She won her first ITF pro title in January 2021, just days after her Australian Open doubles win. But 2025 marked her true arrival on the WTA Tour.

As a wildcard entrant at the Miami Open, a top-tier WTA 1000 event, Eala produced a stunning, headline grabbing run to the semifinals. She defeated three major champions—Jeļena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and world No. 2 Iga Świątek—a feat that catapulted her into the global spotlight. This performance also made her the first-ever Filipino player to break into the WTA top 100.

That same year, she made her main draw debut at all four Grand Slams. At the US Open, she won her first round match, becoming the first Filipino in the Open Era to win a main-draw match at a major. She capped off her breakout season by winning her first WTA 125 title in Guadalajara and is looking for success in Hong Kong, too.

“It’s been amazing, I don’t really know how to describe this season,” she said. “I don’t really want to get too much into it, because I feel like it will make me a little emotional with everything I’ve achieved.

“I haven’t really had the time to reflect, but when that time comes, I’m sure I’ll be super proud.”

Now firmly established as a top-tier professional, Eala is no longer just a rising star; she is a standard bearer. Her journey is a testament to her talent and dedication, and for millions of Filipinos, she is an inspiration and she feels that when coming to Hong Kong, too.

“I feel so at home, and I feel so much love. I really enjoy playing here,” she said.

“It’s difficult to go see sites for me in between matches. I think when I’m on the tour, the mindset is really about working. So hopefully, maybe after the tournament, we’ll see some sites and get some good food.”

Next year, Eala will be hoping to continue the breakthrough year she experienced in 2025, but admitted she has not made any plans yet.

“To be honest, I haven’t really thought about it yet,” she said. “It’s just I’ve been nonstop for the past few months, and I’m trying to take it step by step, and I haven’t really had the time to sit down and even reflect on this last year, which has been amazing.

“But before I set my goals for next year, I feel like I still have a big push to give out this week.”