Filipino tennis star Alex Eala shared the mantra she learned from her parents and continues to carry with her throughout her career.
"My parents always tell me not to doubt. There's no room for doubt — and that's one of the mantras that I carry with me in every match and in every tournament," she relayed in an interview with Karen Davila on 1ON1.
Alex also credited her parents for serving as a strong support system throughout her journey as an athlete.
"They are so supportive and they've been through every step of the way with me, so they know what it's like. They know the journey. They understand what I am going through and you know, they are my support system," she stated.
When asked whether she had ever made a promise to herself as an athlete, Alex replied: "I don't remember any specific promise, but I always do my best to carry myself with good behavior, face adversity head on, and take control of my emotions and not let my emotions take control of me," she remarked.
In early July, Alex made history by defeating former champion Iga Swiatek in the third round of Wimbledon.
During an emotional courtside interview following her victory, Alex opened up about the significance of the achievement.
"I'm really emotional. Maybe for someone like Iga, who has won so many slams, or maybe someone like Serena or Venus (Williams), this achievement may seem small, but for someone who grew up in the Philippines… You know I went to train with my brother and my grandfather every day after school with my ruffled socks and my light-up shoes and chubby cheeks," she said in a courtside interview.
READ: Alex Eala looks back on sacrifices she made after moving to Spain at 13 for tennis
Alex began playing tennis at four years old, training under the guidance of her grandfather alongside her older brother Miko, who also plays the sport.
At 13, she relocated to Spain, where she spent five years studying and honing her tennis skills at the Rafa Nadal Academy.