FOR much of the past year, Alex Eala has built her brand battling the world's best. This September, she'll be chasing glory for Team Philippines.
Fresh off her historic Wimbledon breakthrough, the 21-year old Eala confirmed that representing the country in the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya this September is very much part of her plans.
"Yes, Asian Games is in my plans," she said on Tuesday during a press conference organized by her longtime backer Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) as part of her whirlwind homecoming before flying back to the US to resume her season in the WTA Tour's hard-court swing.
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For Eala, national team duty offers a different kind of fulfillment from the individual grind of the WTA Tour.
"It's always an honor. Playing in the Asian Games, SEA Games, or in the Olympics, they all bring a different vibe than when I compete on the WTA Tour, and I always, always enjoy when I have my Pinoy teammates," she said.
The 21-year-old fondly recalled her experience at last year's Southeast Asian Games, calling it "an incredible experience" where she "had so much fun."
The Filipina ace will be looking to improve on her 2023 Asian Games campaign in Hangzhou, where she captured two bronze medals in the women's singles and mixed doubles with Francis Alcantara.
She also heads to Nagoya with added confidence after winning her first Southeast Asian Games gold medal last December.
Asked if she'll be chasing the gold medal in Nagoya, Eala flashed the confidence that has fueled her rapid rise.
"You think I'm going for first round? Yeah," she quipped.
Still, Eala stressed that her approach remains the same regardless of the tournament.
"The way I approach tournaments is match by match, round by round. I try to go as far as I can. Of course, the ultimate goal is to win."
Even after becoming the first Filipina to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon, Eala believes her biggest improvement has come mentally.
"It's a continuous process. It's only getting started. How to control my emotions and how I can dictate my emotions rather than letting my emotions dictate me, so being able to handle myself," she said.
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