A NEW DAWN: FILIPINA TENNIS TRAILBLAZER ON THE RISE

Two of the most sensational sports icons shocked the world by announcing their retirement after decades-long impressive domination in tennis. Elsewhere, a new name resounds in the professional world of tennis, hailing from Quezon City, Philippines. She is Alexandra Maniego Eala, popularly known as Alex Eala. The 17-year-old Filipina prowess crafted another history by being the first ever Filipina to hack out a Junior Grand Slam at the US Open. This was a historical ‘remember her name’ moment.

Serena Williams announced her retirement recently after winning 23 Grand Slam titles over the past two decades. Serena began her professional career at the age of 14 in 1995, the same year her sister, Venus, joined pro after skipping the juniors circuit. Serena is thought to have earned roughly $100 million throughout the course of her career, despite spending many years in the shadow of her older sister.

Roger Federer, a 41-year-old Swiss star who has copped 20 Grand Slam singles titles during his prime, is another tennis stalwart who is “drifting away from tennis”. The timing of announcement, which came after Serena Williams’ final match, was not lost on the attention of tennis aficionados.

Federer witnessed firsthand the young (almost half his age), athletic, hard-hitting contenders like top-tier Carlos Alcaraz of Spain. Federer must have taken these into consideration when he decided to bow out.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, in the women’s junior division, is Alex Eala, who, on September 10 at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in New York City, outclassed Czech Lucie Havlickova in the US Open girls final after claiming and establishing a real and international distinction as the first player from the Philippines to bag a Grand Slam junior singles title.

Since the Orange Bowl tournament in December 2021, Eala has not participated in any junior competition. She had competed in professional competitions during her hiatus from junior competitions in an effort to hone her physical and mental abilities further. She made sure she was physically able to do certain skill sets that would offer her a competitive edge throughout

BY ZYLAS TIMOTHY REYES

that time. Havlickova’s attempt to become the first tennis player to win two Grand Slam tournaments in a single season since 2013 was derailed by Eala in the US Open finals. The Czech failed in her attempt to impose her might on Eala after burying herself under 21 uncoerced lapses.

Thousands of people who witnessed Eala speak in both English and Filipino after