Alex Eala crashes out of the 2025 French Open after losing to Emiliana Arango in the first round

Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala has emerged as arguably the best young player to come out of Southeast Asia in recent years, with the 20-year-old establishing herself as a rising star to watch.

Eala showcased her talent with a historic run at the recently concluded Miami Open, where she reached the semifinal stage. The Filipina star defeated three Grand Slam winners en route to the semifinals, marking the deepest tournament run by a Filipino tennis player in history.

The young tennis prodigy continues to make history, achieving a new milestone in her career by jumping to No. 69 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings. However, Eala’s French Open debut did not go as planned, as she was eliminated in the first round after losing to Colombia’s Emiliana Arango, 0–6, 6–2, 3–6, at Court 6 of Roland Garros in Paris.

and Alex Eala has been eliminated after her first match of the tournament 🥹

she really needs more training and preparation in clay huhu bawi na lang next time alex! #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/WPcCjCYcvA

— K 💫 (@keifornal) May 25, 2025

Despite her first-round French Open exit, Eala’s recent exploits have made her one of the most recognizable faces in tennis today. Her achievements have led to a big fan following, with many Filipinos traveling to watch her in tournaments and support her at every opportunity.

The young star acknowledges that there is a lot of pressure on her, but she is proud to be at this level, as she is representing not only herself but also the Philippines and Filipino fans internationally.

“Being Pinoy is such a big part of who I am. And I think that’s also what sets me apart from so many of these players. Growing up in Manila, like nobody did it before. Nobody’s been here. That’s so close to my heart. It’s brought a lot of joy to a lot of people who come from the same place I did. Being the first is a big deal — it gives other people courage to follow the same path.

“For a lot of fans in the tennis world, I’m representing our country and our people. So I do my very best to keep my emotions in check and carry myself well. Because even though I’m doing it for myself, a personal journey, people watching will see me as a reflection of our people,” Eala concluded.

Eala, who turned 20 on May 23, is currently still in contention in the women’s doubles competition. She will partner with Mexican Renata Zarazua against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine and Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania on Wednesday, May 28 (Philippine Standard Time).

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