The tennis world is buzzing with excitement as the inaugural Philippine Women's Open is set to take place in Manila, and all eyes are on rising star Alexandra Eala. But here's where it gets personal... Eala, a Filipino tennis sensation, has received heartwarming messages from her peers, Coco Gauff and Victoria Mboko, ahead of this landmark event.
Eala, who previously won her first WTA title at the Guadalajara Open in 2025, is now gearing up for her home tournament. She shared a series of photos on Instagram with the caption, "Here, there, everywhere," and it seems her popularity is soaring. Tennis stars couldn't help but notice, with Gauff commenting, "Cutieee," and Mboko, who defeated Eala at the 2025 Hong Kong Open, calling her "a breath of fresh air."
This upcoming tournament marks a significant moment for Philippine tennis, but it's not the first time Manila has hosted a tennis event. Back in 2016, the Manila Challenger took place at the same venue, the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. Players outside the top 100, like Luca Vanni and Jeson Patrombon, competed, with Mikhail Youzhny, a former world number eight, claiming the title.
Now, Eala is poised to make her mark on home soil, and the tennis community is eager to see her in action. Will she live up to the expectations and become a household name? And this is the part most people miss - how will her previous opponents, Gauff and Mboko, influence her performance?
The stage is set, and the question remains: Can Eala rise to the occasion and bring home the trophy? Share your predictions and join the conversation!
