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Filipina tennis star Alex Eala battles Joanna Garland of Chinese-Taipei in the quarterfinals of women's singles in the 2026 Asian Games, September 30, 2026 at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Nagoya, Japan. POC Media
Filipina tennis star Alex Eala's rapid ascension as one of the new faces of her sport has reached another pinnacle.
Eala on Wednesday night was included in the TIME100 Next list, TIME's annual list of the most influential rising stars across different industries worldwide.
Eala was named an "Innovator," with her profile written by tennis icon Rafael Nadal.
Nadal noted that Eala "was the first player I shared a tennis court with after my retirement."
"One day, she asked whether I felt like hitting with her for a while. For the first time in many months, I picked up a racket and played again," he added.
Eala has trained at Nadal's tennis academy in Mallorca since she was 13-years-old, having graduated in 2023.
Two years later, Eala emerged as the WTA Tour's breakout star when she reached the semifinals of the 2025 Miami Open — a run highlighted by victories over three Grand Slam champions including then-world No. 2 Iga Swiatek.
This year, she has made more history with deep runs in Wimbledon and the US Open, as well as a first WTA Tour victory in Washington. Eala is currently ranked No. 18 — the first Filipino to make it into the Top 20.
Alex Eala in the TIME100 Next list. Screenshot from time.com
"She still has plenty of room to grow," Nadal wrote. "One of her greatest strengths is precisely her ability to listen, learn, and keep improving.
"But perhaps more importantly, Alex remains a wonderful person—warm, approachable, and humble," the 22-time Grand Slam champion added.
"It isn't easy to handle becoming a true phenomenon at such a young age, and she deserves a lot of credit for keeping her feet on the ground.
"Now, all that remains is to keep enjoying watching her progress."
Eala was one of a handful of athletes included in the list, which also featured Texas quarterback Arch Manning and newly-crowned WNBA Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles of the Minnesota Lynx.
She is currently competing for the Philippines in the 2026 Asian Games, where victory in the women's singles can earn her qualification to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Another Filipino who made the 'TIME100 Next' list is actress and singer Isa Briones who stars in the award-winning series "The Pitt."
Isa Briones attends the 32nd Annual Actor Awards at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on March 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Rodin Eckenroth, Getty Images/AFP/File
Briones recently gained wider popularity for her role as the sarcastic and ambitious second-year resident Dr. Trinity Santos.
The Filipino-American is under the Artists category, with her piece written by her "The Pitt" co-star Katherine LaNasa, who plays the no-nonsense charge nurse Dana Evans.
LaNasa described Briones as "the coolest kid I know" and praised her ability to move between vulnerability, deadpan comedy and grit "with the ease of an actor far beyond her years."
"Her fierce dedication to accurate portrayals of Filipino women onscreen is an inspiration to many," LaNasa wrote of Briones. "But I personally admire Isa because she has the balls to be herself."
Briones' recent return to Broadway also did not go unnoticed by LaNasa.
"This spring's Broadway turn as Connie Francis in Just in Time left me wondering, 'Is there anything (Briones) can't do!?' LaNasa wrote.