MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala received a rousing welcome from Filipino fans during her homecoming appearance at Glorietta Activity Center, where hundreds gathered to celebrate her historic Wimbledon campaign.
The 21-year-old tennis star was greeted by a packed crowd that filled the venue and lined the mall’s upper floors, prompting her to remark, “Ang dami niyo pala.”
Eala thanked supporters for staying up late to watch her matches and for their continued encouragement.
“Maraming salamat sa pagpupuyat. Maraming salamat sa pagdarasal. I’m doing my best to make you guys proud. Sana subaybayan niyo ko in my next matches and my journey to come,” she said.
During the event organized by Globe, Eala played games with fans, signed autographs and posed for photos. She also stayed after the program to greet supporters who were unable to enter the main event area.
The homecoming followed Eala’s breakthrough run at Wimbledon, where she reached the round of 16 — the best Grand Slam singles finish by a Filipino player. Her campaign included a third-round victory over defending champion Iga Swiatek.
Eala described Wimbledon as the biggest milestone of her career and said she hopes to continue inspiring Filipinos while helping raise the profile of Philippine tennis.
She will now turn her attention to the North American hard-court season, beginning with the Mubadala DC Open in Washington from July 27 to Aug. 2, followed by the Canadian Open in Toronto before competing in the US Open, where she earned her first Grand Slam main-draw win last year.
Eala said courage has been central to her journey, describing it as continuing to show up despite setbacks and difficult days. She added that she is excited for the opportunities ahead as she prepares for the upcoming tournaments.
