Pride and inspiration

In a period of one week, the Philippines beamed with pride, despite political bickering, with good news from the world of sports.

This is about a dusky, 5’9” left-handed tennis player who was to a rich stable born. Living in a gated community in the Pasig-Ortigas area, enrolled at the renowned Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy in Mallorca, Spain from 2013 to 2023.

Her mother Rizza Maniego-Eala was a bronze medalist for the Philippine swimming team in 1985 and her uncle is Noli Eala, former PBA commissioner. Athletic blood and passion run in her veins.

But it must not just be genes; it has to also be talent and work ethics, of which she has plenty. She was wielding a tennis racket at age four and was competing internationally at age eight. Even while studying here, she had an hour of tennis before school and two hours after, before diving into study assignments in the evening, fighting tiredness with sheer willpower.

More than that, it is an unremitting trust that God gives glorious moments only in His appointed time. And that “faith and belief” are what’s sustaining us in tough times as well as in moments of glory.

Praised for her success, she never credits herself but points to the undying devotion of her supportive parents, Nadal and his dedicated team and is always inspired by her native roots and always wears a jacket with the national flag of the Philippines wherever she goes.

She faced her fears and trusted her tennis shots and was not awed by the credentials of her opponents. The girl across the net – for her – was just another tennis rival, no titles.

Thus, in Cinderella fashion, she was a rare wildcard entry – ranked at lowly No. 134 by the World Tennis Association – who broke into the semifinals by knocking out three highly ranked Grand Slam winners, including world No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland.

Though she failed to get into the finals to face the world’s No. 1 tennis player, her semifinals rival, No. 4 ranked Jessica Pegula of the US, was almost dead from exhaustion from a gruelling of two-hour match that went past midnight and kept Filipinos here wide-eyed and skipping lunch – watching from thousands of miles away – in full adoration of a new Filipino tennis sensation.

Pegula was all praises for her and vowed we would see more of the Asian marvel from here on. After the match, it was the Filipino who looked more like the winner – blowing kisses, smiling and waving at flag-bearing fans and some American converts. Flying out of Spain and seated at the box was Rafael Nadal himself, who realized he had cut a diamond from the raw and saw it shining resplendent on the global stage.

Nadal probably dishonestly partook of the glory that was hers – but after all, Rafa was the maestro. Star-struck too was many times world champion Stefi Graf, one of only two to win a Grand Slam in one tournament year. Stefi saw in the leftie Filipino what she was when she started to bloom.

Now ranked No. 75, the Filipino leftie can compete for all the marbles in the French, US, Australia and Wimbledon Opens. From her previous wins as twice doubles champ with different partners and junior titles, she had made a fortune of P38 million already. To this will be added at least P20 million from her recent earnings at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. And millions in incoming endorsements of Philippine and global products when she has “rested her body.”

The “Brave Heart” of Philippine tennis is no wimpy lass. Never did she make her sprained ankle in the last match – which had to be taped after she tumbled – as an excuse for losing.

She probably has Buddhist leanings in her, in looking at her conquerors as nothing but her teachers in life, not enemies to be disdained or jealous of.

It is these admirable traits of humility, gratitude, faith, child-like exuberance and fearlessness that make her a champion in many of our hearts.

Her name is Alex Eala, only 19, who made this nation proud for one shining moment.