Alex Eala in a Filipiniana designed by her uncle, Rhett Eala. WTA/Instagram
Before her first-round match at the Madrid Open, Filipina tennis star Alex Eala took a brief pause to represent the Philippines in one of sports' grandest stages, the Laureus World Sports Awards.
The 20-year-old sensation turned heads on the red carpet in a Filipiniana made by her uncle, fashion designer Rhett Eala.
The elegant ensemble featured a full beige chiffon long dress with a waist cut-out paired with a piña bolero, blending modern style with traditional Filipino elements.
The young Filipina showcased her heritage once again on an international platform, sharing a glimpse of her look in a TikTok video set to an OPM song.
"Playing princess for the evening," she said in the caption.
According to Rhett, the dress came together in a matter of days after Alex personally reached out with a clear vision.
"Alex said that she wanted something Filipino and something in piña… She also wanted a top that she should be able to remove at the end of the night. So, she wanted to go dancing," he said.
Despite the tight timeline, the designer and his team completed the gown just in time to be shipped abroad.
"Well, it's Tuesday today… they asked me last Monday," Rhett said, describing the quick turnaround. "We worked out some sketches. I called my team here, and my team here started working on the dress already."
Rhett said he felt immense pride seeing his creation worn at such a globally recognized event.
He also reflected on his niece's journey, recalling the time she and her brother left the Philippines to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain.
"They're both very athletic and very disciplined… it's so nice that they've grown up to be very good kids," he said.
A constant supporter of Alex, Rhett has traveled across countries to watch his niece compete.
"I think I saw one of the juniors matches before she won the title," he said, adding that he hopes to watch her again in Spain.
"Hopefully, if she gets far in Madrid, I'll be able to go."
Alex is scheduled to open her campaign in the Madrid Open against a qualifier as she continues to build momentum on the clay courts of the WTA Tour.