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Filipina tennis star Alex Eala plays China's Wang Xiyu in the semifinals of women's singles in the 2026 Asian Games, October 1, 2026 at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Nagoya. POC Media
NAGOYA – Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala is honored to be part of the TIME100 Next list, the magazine's annual list of the most influential rising stars across different industries worldwide.
The 21-year-old's profile was written by one of her idols and tennis great Rafael Nadal.
"I'm so incredibly honored, and even more so that Rafa. Rafa himself, I guess, wrote a piece and took the time to do that for me. I'm so incredibly thankful to Time and to Rafa," Eala told reporters.
"But yeah, it's a very humbling experience to be among, I guess, the list of people who are super inspiring. So I'm very grateful," she added.
Eala trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca since she was 13 years old, graduating in 2023.
Since then, Eala has had breakout performances on the WTA tour now ranked No. 18 in the world and with a WTA title from the 2026 Mubadala DC Open last August.
In the profile, Nadal mentioned that Eala "was the first player I shared a tennis court with after my retirement."
Nadal likewise noted Eala's ability to stay grounded despite her fame, as well as her "ability to listen, learn and keep improving."
Several athletes were also included in the list, like Texas quarterback Arch Manning and newly-crowned WNBA Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles of the Minnesota Lynx.
Aside from Eala, actress and singer Isa Briones who stars in the award-winning series "The Pitt" also made it to the 'TIME100 Next' list.
Following her Asian Games semifinals exit and bronze medal finish, Eala will now turn her focus to the Wuhan Open happening later this month.