Flying high, Alex Eala keeps her feet on the ground

Alex Eala of the Philippines celebrates after winning a women’s singles match against Naomi Osaka of Japan on day six of the Mubadala DC Open 2026 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on August 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Amid the fame and her continuous rise in tennis, Alex Eala always makes sure to keep her feet on the ground.

Eala made headlines anew after dispatching four-time Grand Slam winner and former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka, 6-4, 6-2, to reach the Mubadala DC Open final.

The 21-year-old Eala is playing her best tennis yet, and despite her rapidly growing popularity, she has also remained steadfast and focused on becoming better on and off the court.

READ: Alex Eala marvels at Naomi Osaka after stunning win at DC Open

SHE’S BACK 🤗🇵🇭

Alex Eala joins us at our desk once again after a superb win over Naomi Osaka 👏#MubadalaDCOpen pic.twitter.com/gnng0aNA1E

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 1, 2026

“For one, I still have so much motivation to become a better player, become a better person. I’m 21, so it’s not like I’m the queen of the world or anything,” Eala said.

“I think another thing is that tennis is such a humbling sport. Another thing is I look back at how far I’ve come or where I’ve come from. And I’ve come a long way. That’s another thing that keeps me grounded.”

Having a solid support system plays a big factor in keeping Eala grounded.

“There are so many things. My family keeps me grounded. My team keeps me grounded. Every error I hit on the court keeps me grounded. Every time I’m mad on the court keeps me grounded,” Eala said. “When I wake up in the morning, I have bad hair. There are so many things that keep you grounded. And I feel like these people, they’re here with me. And of course, they’re here for me.”

READ: Alex Eala sees improved self ahead of Jessica Pegula rematch at DC Open final

Apart from her family, Eala said her coach Joan Bosch is also a vital piece in her career.

“He’s the best, and I trust him so, so much on court.  I trust him so much with my tennis and, lowkey, just in life. I’ve been telling him everything, and it makes me feel like I’m not alone on court, along with the rest of my team,” Eala said. “All of us have that dedication and that drive for us to improve. I would think of all the people on tour, you would feel the least alone on court.”

Eala also attributed her rise to the Rafa Nadal Academy.

“I’ve been there for a really long time, and I spent a lot of my formative years there. I’ve made so many great relationships. And of course, the coaching staff at the academy are so knowledgeable, so experienced. And of course, Rafa himself. So I’ve learned so many things. I left at 13, and now I’m 21. So how much has improved from then to now? I think tactically, physically, technically, so many aspects,” she said.