YET to even pick up a ball in New York, Alex Eala is already having quite the week, landing features in two of the world’s biggest publications.
Days before she opens her 2026 US Open main draw campaign, the Filipina tennis star found herself on the covers of Sports Illustrated and Forbes, with both releasing their Eala features almost at the same time.
The moment signals just how far Eala’s profile has grown in recent months.
Sports Illustrated put Eala on its latest digital cover, calling her the “Pride of the Philippines” while looking into her rise as one of tennis’ emerging stars.
Forbes, meanwhile, featured Eala on its Daily Cover, focusing on how her success on court has turned her into a phenomenon off it, and how she has dealt with the attention that came with it.
The timing could not have been better.
Eala is set to make her second US Open main draw appearance as the No. 17 seed, her highest Grand Slam seeding yet, after breaking into the world’s top 20 for the first time.
READ: Alex Eala opens US Open campaign against qualifier Mary Stoiana
With a whole nation behind her and a popularity level already drawing comparisons to Manny Pacquiao in his prime, Eala’s impact has become pretty hard to miss.
Now, it’s the covers that are starting to catch up.
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