Alexandra Eala shocked the Philippine media when she announced the REASON for not participating in Roland Garros, making thousands of people cry, coach Rafael Nadal also personally sent her a letter of encouragement “No one has ever treated me like this”.
In a revelation that left an entire nation stunned and emotional, Filipino tennis star Alexandra Eala broke her silence on why she will not be competing at this year’s Roland Garros tournament—a decision that has rippled across both the tennis world and the hearts of her millions of fans.
Eala, who has been rising rapidly through the ranks of the WTA and capturing global attention with her fierce playing style and charismatic presence, had been widely expected to make a strong run at the French Open this year. But as the draw was released, her name was nowhere to be found.
Speculation had swirled for days. Was it an injury? A scheduling decision? A quiet suspension? The truth, as revealed in a heartfelt press conference in Manila, turned out to be far more personal—and far more heartbreaking.
“I’ve decided not to compete at Roland Garros this year,” she began, holding back tears. “Not because of injury or politics or pressure, but because of something that matters even more to me—family.”
According to Eala, her grandmother, who had been battling illness for months, entered a critical condition just weeks before the tournament. The tennis prodigy made the difficult decision to remain in the Philippines to spend precious time with her and her loved ones, putting her family above fame.
