ALEX Eala grew up watching Maria Sharapova. Each time she's asked about her childhood icons, the Russian star is easily her easiest pick before she pauses to think of others.
Today, the former world No. 1 sat across from Eala, giving the Filipina world No. 18 the chance to pick her brains and learn a bit about her.
“You’re our youngest guest, and I don’t think anyone’s going to break that record,” Sharapova told Eala in the latest episode of her podcast ‘Pretty Tough.’
READ Alex Eala has no regrets in skipping WTA tour for Asian Games
The episode was filmed in the United States, likely after Eala’s stint at the 2026 US Open, judging from the full Calvin Klein show outfit she wore for the pod.
It was a full-circle moment for Eala who couldn't hide her excitement the moment she entered the room.
But beyond the novelty of guesting in the pod, having shared an hour-long conversation with the five-time Slam champion, offered an connection between the two.
As Eala talked about navigating the unforgiving WTA Tour, Sharapova understood it all too well.
Here’s our best takeaways:
Honesty with yourself is everything
In the past year alone, the 21-year-old Filipina made headlines, often regarded as the ‘popular’ rising star due to her huge following, mostly out of Filipino support.
That comes with pressure, yes, but Eala has never been particularly interested in letting public opinion dictate how she sees herself.
“My relationship with public opinion is quite healthy, it’s fleeting. I’m able to detach quite well, very convinced with my own opinions and I trust my team a lot, if they say that, 'Oh, your level is there and I feel that way too,' its very difficult to not convince me of that,” she said.
Eala continued: “Sports is a very honest thing, it’s black and white, in or out. Just because you gave everything you had, doesn’t mean you performed well. It’s not always 1+1 = 2, just because you put the hours into, doesn’t mean you’re going to win.”
Sharapova could relate, recalling a moment when her physiotherapist made a critical comment on her game right after losing a match.
It was painful to hear but proved correct.
Sharapova said: “My physio said: ‘you were soft when you had to be strong’, and that feels like a dagger was put in my heart. I went back to my match, I was passive, and he was absolutely 100 correct.”
For these stars, they trust their teams to tell them the truth.
Maiden moments on an infamous ‘Monday’
Eala and Sharapova also found common ground in something a little sweeter: winning their first WTA titles.
Sharapova remembered hers coming in the middle of nowhere in Japan on a Monday.
“Same!” Eala replied.
There was, however, one difference.
“You had way bigger audience on a Monday!” Sharapova pointed out.
Eala's Washington title run in August ended with a packed crowd watching her become the first Filipina to win a WTA 500 title.
But Sharapova understood why that first title stays with a player.
“There’s something about that first victory,” she said.
Did Maria just utter the name ‘Lolo Bob’? Yes, she did.
Then came the part of the conversation that Eala probably never imagined having with Sharapova: talking about “Lolo Bob.”
“I never would’ve believed that you’ll be saying ‘Lolo Bob,’” Eala laughed.
Her grandfather, her first coach, was one of the earliest and most influential figures in her tennis development, with Eala recalling the rigorous training and sacrifices that came with growing up around the sport.
“He’s a happy man, he’s a tough coach, and he sacrificed a lot,” she said.
Being coached by her grandfather meant he had to sacrifice a part of being a grandfather, too.
“He’s a very intense guy,” Eala said. “I’ve dealt with pressure at a young age because of him. And I’m so, so grateful for that.”
One of the biggest lessons he gave her was learning how to be coachable.
That fit naturally into a family where respect was non-negotiable.
“In our family, we’re big on respect,” Eala said. “No such thing as talking back. Disrespect is looked down in our family and our culture.”
The schedule was rigorous, but Eala was quick to make one thing clear.
“I had a rigorous training schedule, but I had a happy childhood,” she said.
For her, the two things were ever sufficient to build her character.
All-in at 13
At 13 years old, Eala moved to Spain to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy, a decision that accelerated her transition from promising junior to professional prospect.
It also meant growing up differently.
“When you make steps that big, you won’t experience life in a ‘normal’ way,” Eala said.
She was exposed to a professional environment early. Social life became almost nonexistent, and the friendships that other teenagers might have taken for granted became something she had to actively make room for.
Now that she has established herself on tour, Eala said she makes a point of building those relationships.
“You don’t need a big circle, you just need a solid one,” she said.
The tour can be lonely, but having people who understand the experience changes that.
“The suffering, you don’t feel alone.”
Serviceable advice
It is also part of why Eala has found inspiration in players who have already gone through their own struggles.
When she first arrived at the Rafa Nadal Academy, Tony Nadal told her that even Rafa had struggled with his serve for a long time.
That resonated with Eala because the serve remains one of the areas of her own game she feels needs to improve compared with the very best players.
Eala said: “It’s nice to know that these decorated people have gone through something very similar. That’s inspirational to me not having the biggest serve.”
Rare friendships on tour
Sharapova admitted that having close female friends on tour was something she never really experienced during her own playing career.
Eala's experience has been different.
She said she admires her friends for their own specific qualities, even while knowing that everyone is ultimately competing for the same thing.
“We’re all in it to win it,” Eala said.
That means there are no hard feelings when a friend celebrates a winner against her.
“When they rip a ‘come on,’ I don’t think about it,” she said.
And when Eala does the same?
“When I rip a ‘come on,’ and I hit a winner, and I scream, it’s not because I want them to go down, or not succeed,” she explained. “It’s just because I want myself to succeed. I just want it more in the moment.”
Sharapova understood: “I respect that, it’s an understand of knowing what it’s like.”
Alex’s Day One will always be Miko
There was also room for the kind of family story that could never fit neatly into a career recap.
Eala's brother Miko, she said, is simply a better tennis player than she is. Even now.
“If there’s anybody who’s going to know the tactic to play me, it’s my brother,” she said.
The last time they hit together was in December, despite Miko having not played for around six months after starting work. He warned his sister that he was out of shape, yet showed the exact opposite.
“He destroyed me,” Eala said.
Sharapova laughed: “That’s what they do.”
READ Rafael Nadal pens Alex Eala's tale for TIME100 Next
Sitting across her favorite proves Eala has come far more than moving away and winning a couple of matches against the best in the world, but also in terms of influence.
Perhaps, just earlier this week, Rafa Nadal wrote her story for Time100.
Sharapova said before they ended: “You’re our youngest guest, and I don’t think anyone’s going to break that record.”
Simply, full circle.
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