Filipina tennis player Alex Eala, as of April 7, 2025, is now ranked 73rd by the Women's Tennis Association. This makes her the highest-ranked Filipina player in WTA Tour history.
The achievement comes after her outstanding run at the recent 2025 Miami Open, where she entered as a wildcard. Defeating one opponent after another, she crawled her way through the tournement, finishing in the semis.
For all of Eala’s accomplishments—including being the No. 2 ranked junior in 2020, winning the first junior singles title at the 2022 US Open, earning all the other firsts as a Filipino athlete, and the rising star status in international tennis—her biggest hurdle isn’t always on the court. Sometimes, it’s at the embassy.
Alex Eala on the Struggle of Acquiring Visas for Her Competitions
In a virtual press conference organized by BPI and Globe last April 8, the 19-year-old tennis champion opened up about the lesser-seen struggles of being a Filipino athlete: not just the training, the pressure, or the competition—but the simple act of getting from one country to another.
"What's challenging is being able to travel with flexibility," Eala says, echoing almost everyone's struggle as a Philippine passport holder. "As a tennis player, you need to be very flexible with your schedule. You're going to make a lot of last-minute choices, and it doesn't allow you time to organize all of this—every single time—to have the visas ready."
While players from other countries might pack up and head off to a tournament with ease, Filipino athletes often face time-consuming, unpredictable visa processes. For someone like Eala, whose career hinges on agility and the ability to move with the tour, this can mean missed opportunities and an added mental load.
"It takes so much time," she adds. "For me, I find challenging the visas, being able to plan."
The Philippine passport ranks 75th in the Henley Passport Index, allowing visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to only 69 countries and territories. Australia, Paris, London, and the United States—where the four major Grand Slams are held—require a visa.
Despite the hurdles, Eala remains focused on what’s ahead. Balancing recovery and match readiness, she says her team is working hard to keep her in peak condition—ready to face not just opponents but the logistics that come with global competition.
Still, Eala is quick to acknowledge that her Filipino identity also brings its own kind of strength—especially in the form of community. When asked what she sees as the biggest reward of being a Filipino athlete, her face lights up.
"Of course, it’s the support of the Pinoys," she says. "You cannot find that kind of community anywhere else, in my opinion. The love and the support, you know, this past month is a testament to that."
This story originally appeared on Esquiremag.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
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