Alex Eala rise is gaining international recognition, with TIME naming the Filipina tennis star among its 100 most influential rising figures of 2026 and Rafael Nadal calling her a “true phenomenon.”
Eala was included in the TIME100 Next list on Sept. 30 under the Innovators category, another major recognition for the 21-year-old who has already broken new ground for Philippine tennis.
Her profile was written by Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion who has known Eala since she began training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca at 13.
“Alexandra Eala was the first player I shared a tennis court with after my retirement,” Nadal wrote.
“One day, she asked whether I felt like hitting with her for a while. For the first time in many months, I picked up a racket and played again.”
Eala’s breakthrough accelerated at the 2025 Miami Open, where she reached the semifinals after defeating three Grand Slam champions, including then-world No. 2 Iga Swiatek.
In 2026, she won a WTA 500 tournament and became the first Filipino player to enter the world’s top 20. She is currently ranked No. 18.
Nadal also praised the qualities behind her rise.
“One of her greatest strengths is precisely her ability to listen, learn, and keep improving,” he wrote.
He described Eala as “warm, approachable, and humble,” adding that handling the attention around becoming a “true phenomenon” at such a young age was not easy.
The TIME recognition arrived during Eala’s campaign for the Philippines at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. She reached the women’s singles semifinals on Sept. 30, carrying her medal campaign into October.
The recognition adds to a 2026 season that has already brought Eala her first WTA Tour title, a Top 20 breakthrough and praise from one of tennis’ most decorated champions.
