Asian Games: Alex Eala opens up about Joanna Garland and chasing gold for the Philippines - GMA Network

NAGOYA, JAPAN — After a hard-fought match against Joanna Garland at the 20th Asian Games, Filipina tennis star Alex Eala’s thoughts quickly turned to her opponent, who was seen in tears after the contest.

Eala won the contest, 7-5, 6-0, to advance to the semifinals and assure the Philippines of an Asian Games medal.

For Eala, Garland’s emotions reflected just how much was at stake for every athlete competing at the Games.

“I think it’s understandable that everyone’s here to win, everyone is giving their best. So it’s difficult to compete and it’s a difficult endeavor,” Eala told the POC Media.

However, Eala said Garland should leave the tournament with her head held high after reaching the quarterfinals.

“I think she should be proud of reaching the quarterfinals,” Eala said. “I think we are good friends, and I think that’s what I remember her for the most, is being a good person.”

Eala also praised Garland as a formidable opponent, pointing to her power, serve, and fighting spirit.

“She’s a great player, obviously has really good high quality. She has a lot of power, great serve, many good qualities, and obviously is a fighter,” she said. “You could see that in the energy she brought on court today.”

While Garland had her own emotions to deal with, Eala is carrying a different kind of weight in Nagoya — the expectations of Filipinos hoping she can deliver an Asian Games gold medal.

Once she steps on the court, however, Eala said she tries to strip the moment down to its simplest form.

“When I’m on court, it’s me and the ball,” she said.

For Eala, dealing with pressure also means accepting an unavoidable reality of professional tennis: even the best players can lose.

“At the end of the day, being a professional tennis player and a competitive tennis player, losing comes. You have to understand that losing is part of the job and losing is always a possibility,” Eala said.

“That’s what makes tennis so difficult. That’s what makes tennis so exciting, is that you never know what’s going to happen and you can’t let your guard down.”

Rather than allowing those possibilities to weigh her down, Eala said they fuel her desire to improve.

“I think that also contributes to my pursuit for excellence and my pursuit for the best version of myself,” she said.

As the top seed in the tournament, Eala recognized that her opponents are now more often entering matches knowing she is the player to beat.

But she considers that a welcome challenge.

“I think it’s a good problem to have. It’s kind of cool because I’ve been on both sides — the kind of underdog side, and then more recently, I’ve been on kind of more of the seeded side,” Eala said.

Each situation, she added, comes with a different kind of pressure.

“Not to say that one is more difficult than the other, it’s just different types of difficulties,” she said. “Of course, it’s always better to be on top.”

Still, Eala refuses to look too far ahead.

“There’s always going to be someone better than you, in tennis and in life, I think,” she said. “With that philosophy, you just have to take everything step by step.”

That composure was tested early against Garland in a closely contested opening set.

Eala described the first set as a battle featuring several service breaks, long rallies, and numerous games that reached deuce.

“It was a really close first set. A lot of breaks and some good hitting. I think a lot of deuces as well,” Eala said.

The difference, she said, was her ability to deliver when the biggest points arrived.

“Maybe I just had my way in the important points and I got a couple more during those tight moments,” she said.

Those moments ultimately enabled Eala to seize control of the match and carry on with her Asian Games journey.

Her presence in Nagoya itself came with a sacrifice. Eala said competing for the Philippines meant passing up another tournament that could have offered ranking points and prize money.

“It was a difficult decision,” she said. “But representing the country and playing these types of games — SEA Games, Asian Games, and hopefully the Olympics one day — they’re very close to my heart and a big part of my dreams.”

For Eala, playing under the Philippine flag remains bigger than the pressure that comes with it.

She also relishes the rare opportunity to compete alongside fellow Filipino athletes.

“I get to be with my teammates,” Eala said. “I think these events are really fun, really competitive, and a great experience for me, both in terms of learning and just experience.”

And with the demands of singles, doubles, and the professional tour piling up, Eala said the approach remains the same: take things one day at a time.

“The WTA Tour and the tennis tour in general is very rigorous, so it’s kind of part of my life to have quick turnovers,” she said.

“Just try to plan, take it day by day, and prioritize health,” Eala said.