Lance Joseph Martinez

‘The Real Win Is Showing Up’: How Alex Eala’s Words Continue to Inspire Filipinos

Article (news)

<p>It&rsquo;s incredible to see just how much <strong>Alex Eala&nbsp;</strong>has grown in the span of a year.</p><p>During last year&rsquo;s<strong>&nbsp;US Open</strong>, Filipinos were already celebrating after she secured her first-ever US Open match victory, before her run came to an end in the following round. Fast-forward to this year, and we&rsquo;re witnessing a much grittier, fiercer, and more confident version of the young tennis star.</p><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 700px; display: block;" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788508489231[image] - 3220245.jpg" style="width: 700px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"><span class="fr-inner">Alex Eala | Photo from @alex.eala</span></span></span></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br></div><p>Aside from capturing her first <strong>WTA&nbsp;</strong>title at the <strong>Washington Open</strong>, Alex has continued to make history on the court. She has now advanced to the third round of the US Open, following her 6-1, 6-4 victory over<strong>&nbsp;Ukraine&rsquo;s Oleksandra Oliynykova</strong> in the second round.</p><p>There&rsquo;s no denying that Alex has become one of the most influential figures in Philippine sports, particularly among the youth. At just 21 years old, the tennis sensation continues to establish herself as one of the country&rsquo;s most relevant and inspiring young athletes.</p><p>But it isn&rsquo;t only Alex&#39;s game that has been inspiring Filipinos. Her eloquence and ability to articulate her thoughts have also made her a source of inspiration, with some of her words and statements repeatedly resonating with fans and fellow Filipinos.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-8" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbDWBwlOIYF/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A8%2C%22os%22%3A1069674.6000000015%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-8" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br></div><p>Last July, <strong>METRO&nbsp;</strong>had the opportunity to sit down with Alex for a cover shoot during her brief stay in the Philippines before she resumed her international tournament schedule. And even a few minutes into the conversation, her eloquence was undeniable, with several of her words capturing the mindset, determination, and values that have shaped her journey.</p><p>With that, here are some of Alex Eala&rsquo;s most inspiring words that continue to resonate with Filipinos and tennis fans around the world.</p><div><br></div><div><a href="https://metro.style/metro-style/people/2025/8/27/list-5-inspiring-quotes-from-filipino-tennis-star-alex-eala-1045"><strong>RELATED: 5 Inspiring Quotes From Filipino Tennis Star Alex Eala</strong></a></div><div><br></div><div><strong>&ldquo;For the girls with ruffled socks, light up shoes, and chubby cheeks.&rdquo;<br></strong></div><p>Following her historic <strong>Wimbledon&nbsp;</strong>victory over<strong>&nbsp;Iga Swiatek,</strong> Alex Eala shared the quote on her Instagram, a sentiment that beautifully captures the familiar image of a typical Filipina little girl and the simple ways many of us remember ourselves growing up.</p><p>And in many ways, Alex&rsquo;s own journey is a reminder that just like those little girls with big dreams, any Filipina can grow up to become something extraordinary, no matter where her journey begins.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaY1QedDCNA/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A614755.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="566" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br></div><div><strong>&ldquo;Kapag lumago, hindi na hihinto.&rdquo;<br></strong></div><p>A quote from Alex Eala&rsquo;s <strong>Nike</strong> campaign that completely took the internet by storm. And now, as she continues to blossom into the athlete and person she is today, the message feels even more powerful, because nothing and no one can stop her from becoming an even stronger and better version of herself.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaSEyFRjLGy/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A639219.6000000015%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="926" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br></div><div><strong>&ldquo;Winning isn&rsquo;t just about crossing the finish line first. The real win is showing up, pushing yourself forward, and supporting the runners beside you.&rdquo;<br></strong></div><p>These words were shared by Alex Eala alongside glimpses of her training, offering a deeper look into the mindset behind her journey. Her message serves as a reminder that winning isn&rsquo;t simply about crossing the finish line or claiming a victory&mdash;it&rsquo;s also about becoming better, pushing your limits, and inspiring others to do the same.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX37PSbMvKY/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A694213.6000000015%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br></div><div><strong>&quot;Learning to let days be days.&quot;<br></strong></div><p>For someone whose year has been filled with a demanding tennis schedule and tournaments around the world, Alex Eala also knows the importance of slowing down. During her <strong></strong>Christmas<strong></strong> break in the Philippines, she embraced the idea of taking life one day at a time, allowing herself to appreciate the ordinary moments without constantly thinking about the next achievement, competition, or milestone.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DSov5waEp6n/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A729509.1000000015%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="926" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br></div><div><strong>&ldquo;I think it would be such a shame if I didn&rsquo;t do my best to enjoy&hellip;. Now I&rsquo;m actually here. It would be a big shame if I didn&rsquo;t enjoy what I had.&rdquo;<br></strong></div><p>For Alex Eala, it seems that her journey in tennis ultimately comes down to one thing: enjoying the career she has worked so hard to build. While the pressure and expectations that come with being one of the Philippines&rsquo; most popular athlete may continue to grow, she remains grounded in what inspires her to keep going&mdash;and, most importantly, to enjoy the sport she loves.</p><p>When asked what she hopes to achieve in the future, Alex shared a simple yet powerful perspective: &ldquo;I just want to make sure I gave it my best, worked hard, and had fun.&rdquo; And perhaps that mindset is what makes her journey all the more inspiring, not just striving to win, but making sure she gives her best, works hard, and finds joy along the way.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 560px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2095014909126066562&lang=en&maxWidth=560px&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-09-04T08%3A36%3A02.307145%3A3813e2ee-92aa-4ecc-be21-b2a8f3947ba4%26action%3Dedit&sessionId=8a64e3170c9e874d60db2c04cb648972034460b9&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 560px; height: 313px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2095014909126066562"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div><br></div><div><strong>&quot;I don&rsquo;t want them to look at me and say, &#39;I want to be the next Alex Eala.&#39; I want them to look at me and say, &#39;Wow, I want to be the first me.&#39;&quot;<br></strong></div><p>There&rsquo;s perhaps nothing more inspiring than hearing someone like Alex Eala, who has become an influential figure for many, speak about her desire to inspire others to embrace who they are and find their own path in life.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 560px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2073461184720949439&lang=en&maxWidth=560px&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-09-04T08%3A36%3A02.307145%3A3813e2ee-92aa-4ecc-be21-b2a8f3947ba4%26action%3Dedit&sessionId=8a64e3170c9e874d60db2c04cb648972034460b9&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 673px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2073461184720949439"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div><br></div><div><strong>&ldquo;I think everyone represents something in their own way. I&rsquo;m Filipino, and I proudly represent that.&rdquo; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br></strong></div><p>And of course, this list wouldn&rsquo;t be complete without a quote that captures just how proud Alex Eala is to be Filipino. Wherever her tennis journey takes her, Filipinos from around the world continue to show up, build a community, and fill the stands to cheer her on, reminding her that she carries an entire nation with her every time she steps onto the court.</p><div><br></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 560px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2095606312759648549&lang=en&maxWidth=560px&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-09-04T08%3A36%3A02.307145%3A3813e2ee-92aa-4ecc-be21-b2a8f3947ba4%26action%3Dedit&sessionId=8a64e3170c9e874d60db2c04cb648972034460b9&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 560px; height: 314px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2095606312759648549"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div><br></div><p>Lead photos from <strong>@alex.eala&nbsp;</strong>and <strong>@atletafilipina</strong></p>

<p>“I think everyone represents something in their own way. I’m Filipino, and I proudly represent that.” Here’s why Alex Eala’s powerful words continue to inspire Filipinos around the world. </p>

“I think everyone represents something in their own way. I’m Filipino, and I proudly represent that.” Here’s why Alex Eala’s powerful words continue to inspire Filipinos around the world.

‘The Real Win Is Showing Up’: How Alex Eala’s Words Continue to Inspire New Generations of Dreamers

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‘The Real Win Is Showing Up’: How Alex Eala’s Words Continue to Inspire New Generations of Dreamers

Lance Joseph Martinez

Published September 04, 2026 11:20 PM PHT

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Updated September 04, 2026 11:27 PM PHT

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Alex Eala

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