Alex Eala grew up watching Manny Pacquiao fights in the Philippines. What she never imagined was that she would one day hear her name mentioned alongside his.
During her pre-tournament media availability at the Cincinnati Open, Eala offered a thoughtful response to comparisons between her rapid rise and Pacquiao’s place as the Philippines’ most celebrated sporting figure.
“It never really crossed my mind when I was watching his fights back home that one day I would be compared to him,” Eala said.
The comparison has followed Eala as Filipino communities fill stadiums, organize watch parties and stay awake through the night to follow her matches. Although flattered, the 21-year-old tennis star stopped well short of placing herself on Pacquiao’s level.
“I think I’m still very, very far from the levels of Pacquiao,” Eala said.
Alex Eala Reflects on Manny Pacquiao’s Impact
Pacquiao became the first boxer to win world championships in eight weight divisions, compiling a 62-8-3 professional record. At the height of his career, his fights were national events in the Philippines.
Eala remembers the excitement surrounding those occasions and how Pacquiao gave Filipinos a shared reason to celebrate.
“Pacquiao is such a sporting legend for us Filipinos, and he’s done a lot for us athletes, I think, to pave the way,” Eala said. “The feeling that Pacquiao gave the Filipinos was great — to have someone to rally over.”
“When he would have fights, everyone was so excited, and it was just a chance for people to come together.”
Eala’s own journey has started to produce similar scenes.
Filipino flags filled the stands during her title run at the Washington Open and again at the National Bank Open in Toronto. Pacquiao congratulated Eala after she rallied to defeat Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 in Washington, becoming the first player representing the Philippines to win a WTA Tour-level singles title.
“To Alex Eala, congratulations on your victory,” Pacquiao said on social media. “Thank you for bringing honor to our country. We are cheering for you. We are proud of you.”
Eala acknowledged that her success can create some of the same feelings of unity without making her story an extension of Pacquiao’s.
“I guess my journey has similar things or can give similar things like that,” Eala said. “It’s very flattering to be compared to him, but at the same time, I think they are also two unique journeys. They’re two very different journeys.”
“One, I don’t think, take away from the other. I think they both have their own beautiful set of characteristics.”
When Is Alex Eala’s Next Match?
Eala arrived in Cincinnati after a demanding two-week stretch. She captured the biggest title of her career in Washington before extending her winning streak to seven matches in Toronto.
Belinda Bencic finally stopped that momentum with a 6-4, 6-0 victory in the Toronto round of 16.
The loss did little to erase Eala’s progress. Her Washington championship lifted her to a career-high No. 20 in the WTA rankings and earned her the No. 17 seed at the Cincinnati Open.
Eala received a first-round bye and will make her tournament debut against Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse on Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. Her exact start time and court assignment have not yet been announced.
Ruse advanced with a commanding 6-0, 6-3 victory over Magda Linette on Court 10. The Romanian converted six of eight break-point opportunities, won 61 of the match’s 102 total points and allowed Linette to hold serve only twice.
Pacquiao carried the hopes of the Philippines into boxing rings around the world. Eala is carving out her own place on the tennis court — appreciative of the comparison, but determined to preserve the identity of both journeys.
Alex Eala Gets Honest About Manny Pacquiao Comparison Before Cincinnati Open