Alex Eala branded an ‘inspiration’ by Philippines team member for the Asian Games, ‘she is my idol’

Filipino tennis player Tennielle Madis has described her fellow teammate, 21-year-old Alex Eala, as her "idol" following the Asian Games. Eala, who is currently ranked 18th in the world, recently lost her opening match at the Singapore Open against Tatiana Prozorova, which disappointed her. Despite this setback, Eala will get another chance to bounce back when she plays her first-round match on Monday at the tournament.

Madis, who has been playing tennis since she was five years old, is a proud graduate of the Philippines Tennis Academy. She is set to join the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa for the U.S. NCAA Division I, where she hopes to further her career. Eala has represented her country multiple times and recently made her first appearance on the WTA Tour with a wildcard entry into the Manila 125 event earlier this year.

Madis has praised Eala for her kindness and her ability to inspire her and their fellow athletes both on and off the court. The fact that Eala might face sanctions from the WTA for competing in the Asian Games over a WTA 1000 event in China only adds to her status as an idol. Eala will face the winner of the match between Thailand's Patcharin Cheapchandej and Pakistan's Qureshi Mahin Aftab in her opening match at the Asian Games, and will partner University of Alabama star Shaira Rivera in the women's doubles.