Rising Filipino tennis player Alex Eala greets fans and members of the media, in a meet-and-greet event at The Globe Tower in Bonifacio Global City, on Friday, July 18. (MB video by Kristel Satumbaga-Villar)
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00:00Thank you for being here and so happy to be back at Globe and see you all again.
00:07Okay, thank you. Can we grab a mic?
00:10This year you faced a lot of higher ranked players and Grand Slam champs.
00:16Could you share what lesson from those players made a mark on you?
00:23I think more than what lesson I learned from them is what I learned about myself when I play them.
00:29So, I learned my takes, I learned what keeps me going, I learned how to manage my nerves, and I learned to be brave.
00:37And be, channel the boss, like try to be the boss of them.
00:42I love it.
00:43Can you share who you looked up to growing up?
00:46Oh, I looked up to so many players, but my one super idol when I was growing up was Maria Sharapova.
00:53Because of the way she played and her mentality, but also the way she presented herself.
00:59I think I was probably five when I first saw her and she was always dressed nice and she was loved by everyone.
01:06So, I was not an exception to that.
01:09I think I've been working on a lot of aspects of my game individually.
01:13And this year, I clicked for one, for example, was my fitness.
01:20So, I'm more fit now, I'm more fit in court, and the level is being able, I'm able to maintain the level for a longer period of time.
01:31That's why I can, sometimes I can hang with these top players.
01:35And the movement, also part of that, my forehand.
01:39So, everything, little adjustments and everything, and this year, you mentioned a click.
01:45Most recent realizations about playing professionally at a very high level?
01:50I think, especially this year, one big realization I had, I was talking to one of my coaches, and it was crazy how things changed before and after Miami.
02:04You know, how many doors opened up, and of course, all this attention and everything.
02:09And it's crazy because I, we were saying like, everything that I'm doing is still the same.
02:15Like, our routines are still the same, the people surrounding me are still the same, you know, my tight circles.
02:20So, he said, he told me, so Alex, what's the lesson in that?
02:23And I thought about it, and I said, what?
02:26And then he said, the lesson is that when you're doing bad, it's not as bad as you think.
02:31And then when you're doing good, it's also not as good as you think.
02:34So, it's never too bad and too good.
02:36It's always like this.
02:38It just depends.
02:39Sometimes it will click, and you will get results, and sometimes it will be a bit more difficult.
02:44Okay.
02:45The mantle of being a trailblazer in Philippine tennis.
02:49It's such an honor, you know, and I think I just have to, just, I do my best to behave as well as I can
02:57because I know that, especially in the international Tennessee, and I'm kind of what comes to mind when they think of Filipinos.
03:05So, I really do my best. I know that a lot of people look up, a lot of the youth look up to me.
03:11And, you know, I just want to represent us in a way that Pinoy's would be glad to be represented.
03:20So, right now, what's lined up for me before US Open, I go to Canada, Montreal, and then Cincinnati, and Monterrey, and then of course New York.
03:29And after that, like I said, we shift to Asia, so there will be a few around China.
03:35I know there's one in Hong Kong in October, and yeah, around, you know, closer to home.
03:41So, if anyone wants to come.
03:43I mean, we're such a patriotic people.
03:47We're also, I've never met a Filipino that's not proud to be Filipino.
03:51And that's just, I feel that's part of our community, that's just part of who we are.
03:54And especially me when I, or other athletes when we're competing in these international stages.
04:00What you don't realize is where you come from is such a big part of who you are.
04:04So, every time you step out on the court, there's always going to be a flag next to your name.
04:08It's always going to relate to your identity.
04:11So, I think it's so important, and it's a part of loving yourself, is loving where you come from, and being proud of it.
04:17Three, two, one.
04:21One, two, three.
04:23Oh my God!
04:26Turn it around!
04:28Oh my goodness!
04:31So, just like Alex herself, this larger than life gift is truly one of a kind.
04:39We hope you like it.
04:40So, let's give a round of applause to Alex in order.
05:02Okay.
05:03Tonight, I'm back to Alex again!
05:05The.
05:06Now you are there on Twitter and it to, please inspire you.
05:11Maynay, through
05:14turn it up wharf.
05:15As you are learning next, you will get your facebook,
05:18looking forward to connect your life reliance.
05:22So, yeah.
05:24Then you're learningенного.
05:26I'll get to.
05:27actor and Empowerment.
05:28Then you can basically describe your heart else.
