Alexandra Eala Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Parents Ahead of Cincinnati Open

Alexandra Eala, the 21-year-old Filipino tennis player, has had a stellar year in 2026, winning the WTA 500 title at the DC Open. However, she recently took a moment to celebrate the people who have been instrumental in her success, her parents, Michael Eala and Rizza Maniego-Eala. As she heads to the Cincinnati Open, Eala shared a heartfelt Instagram tribute to her parents on their anniversary.

The tennis star posted touching photos of her hugging her parents on the court at a tournament in Dubai, accompanied by touching messages. Eala wrote, “Happy anniversary to the definition of couple goals ❤️” and “Lucky to be part of your love @rizza.eala @michael.eala.” In a separate post, she shared a smiling selfie with her parents and older brother, Miko Eala, captioning it, “Love is just too weak of a word.”

Eala's success this year includes defeating top players such as Elena Rybakina, Iga Świątek, Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina, and Leylah Fernandez. Her journey to success has been greatly influenced by her time at the Rafa Nadal Academy, which she moved to at the age of 12. Her parents, Michael and Rizza, have been a constant support system, with her mother being a former swimmer and father managing her tournaments and flights.

Eala credits her parents for shaping her into the player she is today. Heading into the Cincinnati Open as the 17th seed, Eala will face Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the second round.