MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis player Alex Eala on Friday expressed pride and gratitude as organizers unveiled a mural featuring her alongside several national sports icons at the newly refurbished Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila, where she will headline the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open, which serves as a WTA event.
Event staff and artists placed Eala’s image on the mural beside boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, Olympic gold medalists Carlos Yulo and Hidilyn Diaz, basketball legend Robert Jaworski, and representatives from the Filipinas women’s football team, baseball, and swimming.
Eala said she felt honored to appear on the same mural as established Philippine sports figures at the venue that will host her matches in the Philippine Women’s Open.
Tournament organizers scheduled Eala to open her campaign against a Russian opponent in the main draw of the Philippine Women’s Open at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Officials of the Philippine Women’s Open and the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex commissioned the mural as part of renovation works to highlight Filipino athletic achievements before the start of the WTA event.
Spectators and media members at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center on Friday took photos and videos of the mural, which shows Eala in tennis action gear, and shared the images on social media ahead of the tournament’s opening matches.
Tournament personnel confirmed that the mural will remain a permanent fixture at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center after the Philippine Women’s Open to recognize the athletes depicted and to promote local sports.
The Philippine Women’s Open, which organizers scheduled to run in Manila with Eala as the main homegrown draw, forms part of the broader effort of Philippine tennis officials to stage more international women’s tournaments in the country.
Media covering the event reported that Eala viewed the mural before her practice session at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center and then continued her preparations for her upcoming WTA Manila matches.
Officials stated that fans may view the mural during tournament days at the refurbished stadium complex, which underwent upgrades in time for the hosting of the Philippine Women’s Open.