Alex Eala stays humble amid Manny Pacquiao comparisons: 'I'm still very, very far'
Filipina tennis star Alex Eala said she never imagined that she would one day be compared to boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, whose fights once brought Filipinos together across the country.
Speaking to reporters ahead of her Cincinnati Open debut, Eala highlighted that Pacquiao is a "sporting legend" and has paved the way for Pinoy athletes.
"I think the feeling that Pacquiao gave the Filipinos is great—to have someone to rally over. And when he would have fights, everyone was so excited and it was just a chance for people to come together. And I guess my journey has similar things or can give similar things like that," she said, admitting that it's flattering to be compared to him.
"But at the same time, I think there are two unique journeys, two very different journeys," she said. "I think I'm still very, very far from the levels of Pacquiao."
Representing Filipino culture on the global stage
Eala acknowledged that the increased attention surrounding her rapid rise can sometimes feel overwhelming, but she views it as an invaluable opportunity to grow.
“There are moments where it’s heavy, there are moments where it’s fun. But at the end of the day, I am also aware that it's a crazy experience. I'm just trying to take it all in,” she said. “It's really helped me develop as a person, and just see things from a different perspective. It’s allowed me to mature a lot.”
Eala's rising profile has naturally placed her in the position of a cultural ambassador on the global stage. Asked what she considers the essence of Filipino culture, she named “community, family, hospitality, love, kindness,” while emphasizing that no culture can be summed up in just a few words.
“Filipino culture and just every culture in general is very layered. It’s ever-evolving,” she said.
That global journey on the WTA tour has given her a deeper connection to the diaspora. Traveling for tennis allows her to meet overseas Filipino communities, while returning to the Philippines offers a clearer picture of the inspiration she provides to fans back home.
“Because I've been traveling and I'm on tour, I’m quite out of touch sometimes with what my impact is back home,” Eala said, adding that meeting supporters and hearing their stories gave her a glimpse of how tennis have affected their lives.
Turning her focus back to the court, Eala enters her Cincinnati Open debut with a process-driven mindset. A successful week won't be measured solely by how far she advances—though “the more matches the merrier,” she noted—but by her ability to execute her strategy under pressure.
“I think it’s the matches of substance,” she explained, measuring progress by answering: “'Did I execute what I want to execute? Did I bring the level that I wanted to bring?'”
Eala, who recently won her first WTA title at the Mubadala DC Open and became the first Filipina to break into the WTA Top 20, is making her Cincinnati Open debut as the No. 17 seed. She received a first-round bye and is set to face Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the second round on Saturday, Aug. 15.
The Cincinnati Open is also part of Eala's preparation for the US Open later this month.
