Filipina Alexandra Eala on making history in Paris: ‘I proved it’s possible’
Dubai: With a flag on her sleeve and history at her feet, Alex Eala walked onto the hallowed courts of Roland Garros, carrying the hopes of a nation. The 20-year-old became the first Filipina to compete in a Grand Slam main draw — a milestone she marked with pride, even as her debut ended in a hard-fought
Eala, who celebrated her 20th birthday on Friday. bowed out in the opening round of the French Open on Sunday, falling to Colombian Emiliana Arango 6-3, 6-2 on the red clay of Paris.
“Being the first is a big deal because it gives other people courage to do the same and follow the same path,” said Eala, reflecting on her journey. “I think that’s also what sets me apart from so many of these players — I come from Manila, because no one has done it before and no one has been here. That’s so close to my heart.”
A hard-earned breakthrough
Eala’s Grand Slam debut comes after a breakthrough season. In March, she stunned the tennis world with a run to the semi-finals in Miami, beating three Grand Slam winners — Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek — while ranked just 140th.
ALEX EALA 🇵🇭 STARTS HIS 1ST ROUND AT ROLAND-GARROS 🇨🇵 AGAINST ARANGO 🇨🇴#RolandGarros #FrenchOpen#rg25pic.twitter.com/Lm4s4i3NwW
— 🇵🇭 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗫 𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗔 👑 🅽🅴🆆🆂 (@EalaAlexandra) May 25, 2025
“After Miami things kind of came to life. I proved to myself it’s possible,” said Eala, who is now up to world No. 69.
“My parents and I always joke about how far we’ve come, especially when we play in these big tournaments and the facilities are amazing. Before we would joke about all these places back home — and now we’re in Paris… it’s definitely a different level.”
From cracked courts to Grand Slam stages
Growing up in Manila, Eala trained on rundown courts where nets sagged and fences were incomplete — a far cry from the polished setup of Roland Garros.
“Where I started… the courts were cracked, nets were broken, fences were not completed — and here everything is so detailed, everything is so modern,” she said. “Those are the things that you think about, little things people might not appreciate as much if they grew up here.”
