Rafael Nadal Gifts Alexandra Eala Her “Second Home” as the Academy’s Protégé Celebrates at Miami

Alexandra Eala is taking the tennis world by storm! This young starlet has showcased strong skills on the court, hailing from a country with little tennis pedigree, Quezon City, Philippines. The 19-year-old Filipino player has now made it into the quarterfinals of the Miami Open after taking down tough opponents like Katie Volynets and two Grand Slam champions – the 2017 French Open champion Jeļena Ostapenko and the 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys. But who played the most important role in Eala’s journey? Certainly not an unfamiliar name.

On March 25, Eala advanced into the quarters at the Miami Open after Paula Badosa withdrew from their scheduled fourth-round match due to a lower back injury. Wild card Eala and Badosa were expected to play after both scored dramatic third-round wins on Sunday. Before this, world No. 140 Eala topped No. 5 seed and Australian Open champion Madison Keys to continue the best-ever effort for a player from the Philippines in the Open Era. This was not just winning a match; for Eala, it was a win of her abilities.

Keys is known to be a big hitter. Her forehands were so big that even top-10 men’s player Casper Ruud found it difficult to manage at a mixed-doubles exhibition before the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Eala Strategy? Put her legs to use. “I knew that she was a great player, I knew that she was a big hitter,” Eala said after the match. “I had to keep my legs on and take the opportunities that I could find.” With that, she made Keys run.

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Later, Eala highlighted the impact of the Rafa Nadal Academy on her skills: “Yes, so I’ve been there for about seven years. So, it’s my second home and I have so many good relationships with the people from there. They’ve helped me in my development an astronomical amount.” The decision to move across the globe and shift to Spain was anything but easy for Eala!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar (@rafanadalacademy)

That’s where her brother Michael came in! Alexandra was too young to be sent to Mallorca to improve her prospects in the racket sport. But she wasn’t alone in her journey, as she shared with the Tennis Channel: “It came as a shock because I was young. I was 13 when we made that decision, and it was a big decision for us. I think one of the deal-breakers for my parents was that they sent my brother along with me, so I still had family close.”

Eala dubs Rafa her idol: “He is so grounded, and he has achieved more than anything I could dream of, and the fact that he is still so nice to everyone around here is very admirable from him,” she said to GMA back in October 2020.

Seven years after training in Nadal’s academy, Eala’s victory made her the first Filipino player in the Open Era to defeat a former Grand Slam champion at the WTA level. She is also the first at either WTA/ATP level since Eric Taino defeated Michael Chang in 2003.

The young Filipino is taking the right steps to achieve her dream. Following her win against Keys, she was proud to declare that “This is a good step towards where I want to be.” Meanwhile, Rafael is more than proud of his students taking charge of the tennis scene!

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Rafael Nadal gives a massive shoutout to the rising stars from his academy

Alexandra Eala is on fire at the Miami Open! On March 23, she stunned fifth seed Madison Keys with a convincing 6-4, 6-2 victory in the third round. This historic win made her the first Filipino player in the Open Era to defeat a top 10 opponent since the WTA rankings began in 1975. Rafael Nadal himself couldn’t help but celebrate her success, posting a heartfelt “👏🏼@alex.eala👏🏼” on his Instagram Story.

Eala’s journey to this moment has been nothing short of remarkable. Just two days earlier, on March 21, she had already made headlines by defeating former Roland Garros champ Jelena Ostapenko, becoming the first Filipina to beat a Top 30 player since ’75. Nadal was quick to congratulate her, tweeting, “Congratulations Alex! What a great win for you and for [the Philippines].” But Eala isn’t the only star from the Rafa Nadal Academy shining bright.

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Her boyfriend, Coleman Wong, also graduated from the academy and recently upset No. 13 seed Ben Shelton, marking a historic win for Hong Kong. Nadal praised Wong, saying, “There is a lot of effort behind these victories. We are very proud of you, Coleman! A historic win for Hong Kong.”

Now, Eala is gearing up for an electrifying clash against former world No.1 Iga Swiatek, the 2022 Miami Open champion, on Wednesday. Can she deliver yet another surprise upset? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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