Grand slump

More than ever, Alex Eala now feels the full weight of the whole country’s expectation. A string of losses to lower ranked players, as low as a Chinese ranked 217, has disappointed a nation anticipating an easy win from their tennis heroine.

At once, the unforgiving Filipino fans unleashed meanest comments online. Not surprising, they are mindlessly meaner in politics. Whether Alex is affected does not show. Poised and composed, during post-match interviews. She chooses to learn and unlearn from every loss. Onward to the next match.

 Distracted by her high celebrity status of global proportion. Or her foray into fashion. Many say. Only Eala can answer. Or maybe she too is unaware. Or money said. Alex reportedly generated at least half a million dollars in earned media value for a fashion brand. Huge influence, although Michael Jordan impacted the economy by at least a billion dollars.

The truth is, winning every match is next to impossible. Even Serena Williams at her peak vowed to do it but failed. Martina Navratilova, the greatest woman to play the sport in a pre-Serena era, did not play to perfection. No one among the trivalry exceeds 85%winning percentage either.

It only means losing is part of winning. No one becomes champion overnight, much less in broad daylight. Winning is not everything, just as losing is not nothing. Maybe Eala suffers from burnout it disabled her to handle fame and fortune. Unaffected, she is the same sweet, smart girl from the juniors. Even better. The global attention to her celebrity status can be overwhelming. She made it to the Time100 Next annual list of most influential rising stars. The same prestigious and credible magazine named Cory Aquino woman of the year.

If and when her game declines and she drops outside 100, she only has Andre Agassi to learn from. Or be inspired of. The American slept and slipped to world number 141 but bounced back to complete a career grand slam. Plus an Olympic gold. Then he married the woman who did better. She perfected a calendar grand slam. Or golden slam, with an Olympic gold on the same year. Although they say she was unopposed, her rival was stabbed in the baseline, sent to the sideline.

That’s the way it is. You win some, you lose some, just not your wisdom. You win today, tomorrow is not a guarantee. You lose today, tomorrow is another day. That’s tennis. Just as they prosecute several charges today, only to withdraw most of them tomorrow. That’s legal strategy.