Alexandra Eala received a hero’s welcome upon returning home to the Philippines after her groundbreaking run at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships. Fresh off her stellar run, the Filipina also posed for a stunning spread for Metro Magazine, which drew admiring reactions from friends and fellow WTA stars Coco Gauff and Eva Lys.
How Coco Gauff and Eva Lys Reacted to Alexandra Eala’s Metro Magazine Photoshoot
Competing in the main draw of Wimbledon for only the second time in her career, Eala made history by becoming the first Filipino to reach the third round of a Grand Slam. The 21-year-old pulled off a major upset over No. 3 seed and defending champion Iga Świątek, securing a 7-6(9), 6-2 victory to book a spot in the fourth round.
Although the Filipina fell short against Jasmine Paolini in the Round of 16, she etched her name into her country’s sporting legacy. Upon her return to Manila, she was honored with a welcome dinner at Malacañan Palace hosted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, where the 21-year-old was awarded a presidential citation.
During her homecoming, Eala also posed for a striking photoshoot at the Palacio de Memoria, posing against the venue’s breathtaking backdrop in a chic off-white ensemble.
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The photoshoot quickly caught the attention of Coco Gauff and Eva Lys, who showered Eala with compliments in the comments section.
“gorgeous 😍,” Gauff commented.
“Just died,” Lys wrote.
Earlier this year, during an appearance on the Tennis Channel in Indian Wells, Eala spoke about how much she values the close friendships she has formed on tour.
“One of my best friends, not just on Tour but in life, is Zeynep [Sönmez]. I’ve grown really close to her. Victoria Mboko, Eva Lys, and also the half-Filipinas on Tour, I really bonded with them. So I’m really grateful that I’m able to build all these kinds of friendships because we can understand each other, and you know, it’s just growth,” she said.
Eala has since departed the Philippines and arrived in the United States ahead of her campaign at the Mubadala DC Open, which is scheduled to kick off on July 27. In addition to her highly anticipated singles campaign, the 21-year-old will also renew her blockbuster doubles partnership with Venus Williams at the WTA 500 event in Washington, D.C.
Alexandra Eala will then reunite with Gauff and Lys at the Canadian Open. They will be joined by the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka, and Świątek at the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto.
