Filipino tennis star Alex Eala reacted to being included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026 list.
Alex was put on the list under the Entertainment & Sports category. According to Forbes, the category spotlights "the next generation of talent—on court and the screen."
On her Instagram Stories, Alexa wrote: "Honored to be part of Forbes 30 under 30. Still processing this one!"
In its feature, Forbes highlighted her remarkable achievements in tennis, including her breakthrough into the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Top 50 in 2025.
The magazine also noted how she made history as the first Filipina to defeat two Top 10 players at the Miami Open in March 2025 and to win a Grand Slam singles main-draw match at the U.S. Open in August 2025.
Aside from Alex, Filipino singer Zack Tabudlo also made the list under the Entertainment & Sports category.
Alex recently competed at the French Open held at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26. Despite an early exit, the Filipina tennis star remained positive, saying her loss to close friend Iva Jovic would motivate her to further elevate her game.
“I’m super proud of how far I’ve come. I’m confident in myself. I’m confident in how I play even through losses like this. And I think that’s very important. It’s very difficult to achieve every single week, so I take that in my stride," she said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.
Alex Eala reflects on Miami Open journey, proud to represent PH on global tennis stage
The Filipina tennis star also spoke about the value of friendships among young players as they navigate the challenges of life on tour.
“I think friendships are really, really important. Especially at the age I’m at. A lot of the younger girls on tour — if we weren’t professional tennis players — we’d probably be in university or other setups where it’s easier to make friends because the environment is already built for you," she stated.
She went on: “We’re under very unique circumstances, so having friends matters a lot to me personally."