Lifted from   🫴 Twist of Fate between mentor and student🎾 Speaking of the Australian Open, Filipina tennis star Alexandra Eala lost to lower seed American netter Alycia Parks. The 20-year-old Filipina "The Great One" of tennis is ranked world No. 49, while Parks is ranked No. 99. They met on January 19, 2026, where Alex lost to Parks 6-0, 3-6, 2-6 in Round 1. What is striking is that fate seems to be playing a trick on her. Because, 10 years ago, the same fate befell her mentor, Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal. On January 19, 2016, higher seed Nadal (ranked No.5) lost to fellow Spanish player Fernando Verdasco (ranked 45 that year) in their Round 1 match, 7-6(6) 4-6 3-6 7-6(4) 6-2. #AlexEala #australianopen #AO2026 #rafaelnadal

Lifted from Filipina tennis star Alex Eala has been granted a WILDCARD entry to the historic WTA 125 Philippine Women's Open, marking the first-ever WTA event held in the country. The tournament will take place from January 26 to 31, 2026, at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila.  Eala's participation was contingent on an early exit from the Australian Open, which has occurred in both singles and doubles events, making her highly likely to compete in Manila.  Tournament Details Dates: January 26-31, 2026 (Qualifying rounds start Jan 24). Venue: Rizal Memorial Tennis Center, Manila. Level: WTA 125 event (winner earns 125 ranking points). Prize Pool: A total commitment of $115,000. Draws: 32-player singles draw and 16-team doubles. Surface: Outdoor hardcourts. #PhilippineWomensOpen  #WTA125 #hardcourt  #AlexEala #wildcard  #followerseveryone

By Whispered Words Can a Small Country Do This? Melbourne Park Was Never the Same After Alex Eala Story by Joel Lopez No one at Melbourne Park had expected it to happen. Not the organizers with their neatly laminated schedules. Not the broadcasters who had assigned a modest camera crew. Not even the police officers sipping coffee at the edge of the grounds, prepared for the usual tennis crowd, polite applause, hushed excitement, orderly lines. And certainly not Michael Zheng. He stood near Court 8, clipboard tucked under his arm, eyes flicking between his watch and the growing movement at the gates. He had been in sports management long enough to recognize patterns. Grand Slam champions drew crowds. Rivalries drew noise. Local favorites drew flags and chants. But this, this was different. At first it was just a murmur. A ripple of sound carried by unfamiliar accents. A cluster of people wearing white, red, blue, and yellow. Someone waved a flag. Someone else started chanting a name, so...

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from Follow TV “NOT ALL VICTORIES ARE WON ON COURT.” — RAFA NADAL STEPS IN AFTER ALEX EALA’S AO EXIT, AND THE MESSAGE HIT HARD After Alex Eala’s first-round loss at the 2026 Australian Open, the scoreboard said one thing — but Rafael Nadal saw something very different. In a powerful show of support, Nadal and the Rafa Nadal Academy shared a message that instantly caught fire online, reminding the world that some wins can’t be measured in sets or scores. “Not all victories are achieved on the court,” the Academy wrote, praising Alex not just for fighting at Australian Open, but for walking away with the love and affection of the entire crowd. For a 20-year-old carrying the weight of a nation, that line said everything. Now, with her focus shifting to the WTA 125 Philippine Open, Alex Eala said... Another development: “Thank you for carrying our flag so far.” With those words, a torch was quietly passed — and an entire nation felt it. As Alex Eala continues her historic rise on the world...

Lifted from PWPS Eala Touches Down in PH for Historic Philippine Women’s Open Philippine sports fans received a pleasant surprise early Wednesday evening as the country's tennis ace Alex Eala landed at the NAIA Terminal 3.  Accompanied by her parents Mike and Rizza and coach Joan Bosch, the 20-year-old Filipina sports sensation is back home to participate in the first-ever Philippine Women's Open, a WTA 125 event that will be held at the newly-refurbished Rizal Memorial Tennis Center from January 26-31. Eala touched down in Manila straight from a landmark campaign in the 2026 Australian Open in Melbourne where she made her official debut in the singles and doubles events. Upon arrival, she confirmed her participation in the tournament and expressed hope that local fans would turn out and support the event. "Yes, I will be playing next week. Im looking forward to it and I hope people can show up and support the Pinays," Eala said.  "It's a huge milestone in Ph...