Alexandra Eala is breaking new ground for her country with every match she plays. From the Philippines to the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor and onto the global tennis stage, her rise has already been iconic. Recently, Maribel Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s sister and key executive at the academy, praised Eala’s character and impact while extending a warm welcome back to former world No. 1 Iga Świątek.
Maribel Nadal Calls ‘Humble’ Alexandra Eala an ‘Inspiration’ for the Philippines
According to Maribel Nadal, the 20-year-old’s most impressive trait is her humility. “Amazing what she’s doing,” Maribel shared. “It’s very nice to see the affection they have for her in all parts of the world. It is an inspiration for many boys and girls in the Philippines. She is an incredible girl, very humble. We are very happy with everything she is achieving.”
Eala basically grew up in the Rafa Nadal academy. In 2018, when she joined the training facility in Manacor, Spain, she was just 13 years old. Rafael Nadal’s academy reached out to offer her a scholarship shortly after she won the prestigious Les Petits As junior tournament in France, and Eala and her family were relocated to Mallorca so she could develop her game in a world-class environment. Eala eventually graduated from the academy’s academic program in 2023.
When Eala reached the Miami Open semifinals in March 2025, becoming the first Filipino player to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal, Rafa Nadal took to social media to celebrate her success. He wrote, “We are extremely proud of you, Alex. What an incredible tournament! Let’s keep dreaming!”
The 22-time Grand Slam winner also helped her out with private practice sessions. In November 2025, exactly one year after his official retirement from professional tennis, Nadal dusted off his rackets for a hit with Eala at the academy.
Recently, the academy also hosted another extraordinary player, Świątek. The Pole spent her first weeks in April putting in the work after hiring Francis Roig, Nadal’s former coach, in hopes of sharpening her game under the guidance of the ‘King of Clay’.
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For Maribel Nadal, the door is always open for that kind of dedication. “I hope she enjoyed it and can return very soon,” Maribel said of Świątek’s visit.
Eala will play her first-round main draw matchup today against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at the Madrid Open. Meanwhile, after an underwhelming start to 2026, world No. 4 Świątek will also enter the Madrid Open as the fourth seed with a first-round bye, ready to face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, and Coco Gauff, aiming to come back to the top of the rankings.
