Alex Eala shrugs off Manny Pacquiao comparisons, hits career-high No. 43 in WTA live rankings

Alexandra “Alex” Eala has never been one to chase comparisons — especially not the kind that put her in the same conversation as a national legend.

After drawing a massive Filipino crowd to her Australian Open debut in Melbourne, the 20-year-old tennis sensation was once again asked about the frequent parallels being drawn between her and boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.

Her response was simple, honest, and refreshingly grounded: “Oh my god, hindi naman ganoon. Iba naman si Manny Pacquiao, I think. Nasa ibang level na siya.”

Eala’s comments came after her match against world No. 99 Alycia Parks — a game that ended in a 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss but still proved that she is already playing at a level that commands global attention.

The match began like a dream for the Filipina as she dominated the first set 6-0, showing a level of control and confidence that had the crowd buzzing. But Parks bounced back, and Eala couldn’t maintain the same rhythm as the match wore on.

Still, it was not just the tennis that made headlines — it was the sheer magnitude of support she drew.

From packed practice sessions to loud, court-side cheers, Eala felt the weight of national expectations — and she handled it with maturity.

“It was so heart-warming,” she said of the fans’ support.

“That’s one of the things that makes a loss like today a little bit harder, is I know a lot of people were rooting for me.”

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Alex Eala is sitting at 43 in the live rankings. But this could all change this week if players below her win their matches at AO. Still, laban, Alex! Your game has improved so much compared to this time last year. I smell a title this year! pic.twitter.com/ja9YGIclnH

— Adeline (@AdelineAl) January 19, 2026

Her humility and gratitude were unmistakable — even after the defeat, she stayed to sign autographs and thank the fans.

But the bigger story is what happened behind the scenes: despite her exit in the first round, Eala’s WTA live ranking climbed to No. 43, her best-ever position in the sport.

She earned 10 ranking points from her Australian Open appearance, pushing her live ranking upward and giving her a chance to set a new career-best when the WTA updates the official rankings.

The WTA live ranking system, based on a 52-week rolling period, still has the potential to change as the tournament progresses — but for now, Eala’s ascent is undeniable.

Yet even with this breakthrough, Eala refused to be placed on a pedestal.

She recalled how Pacquiao once brought the entire nation to a standstill — families gathering, streets emptying, and the country united in support.

“I mean, naaalala ko ‘pag may laban si Manny talagang parang bakasyon ‘yung mga tao…,” she said.

And then she added the most honest line of all:“So sa tingin ko, medyo malayo pa ako.”

Eala may be far from Pacquiao’s level — but her rise in the WTA rankings shows she’s steadily building her own legacy, one match and one milestone at a time.

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