WASHINGTON DC -- For James Madison University senior Harrison Lee, a Monday morning at the Mubadala DC Open became a day he will never forget.
The Filipino tennis player first shared the practice court with defending champion Leylah Fernandez before getting the opportunity to rally with Philippine tennis star Alex Eala.
"Unbelievable morning," Harrison said. "I first practiced with Leylah Fernandez at 9 o'clock, then 10 o'clock I got to hit with Alex Eala for the first time, then right after I got to watch Leylah win."
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A senior at James Madison University majoring in Accounting, the 5-foot-7 Virginia Beach native has enjoyed a strong collegiate career.
During the 2025-26 season, he earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® honors while primarily competing at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles. He compiled a 15-4 singles record, including a 4-1 mark in dual matches, and posted a 16-10 doubles record with an 8-7 dual-match record.
As a Filipino, Harrison said the opportunity to share the court with Eala carried special significance.
"That's one of the first things I told Alex when I first met her, that it's an honor to be a Filipino and get the chance to meet her and let alone play with her," he said.
"So I told her that everything that she's been doing has been very inspiring, especially for me playing a lot of tournaments myself, so it was amazing to get to play with her."
Harrison also drew inspiration from practicing with both Eala and Fernandez, who is of Filipino and Ecuadorian heritage.
Asked whether hitting with Eala gave him an added boost of confidence, Harrison smiled.
"Yes, of course," he said. "I mean the way she hits the ball and her intensity. I see it all the time when watching her matches, but actually playing against her is another thing. It's difficult. Very strong. It was amazing."
Beyond Eala's level on the court, Harrison was equally impressed by her kindness off it.
"She was so nice as well," he said. "She and her coach were very nice. They'd tell me to sit—they don't have to do that— so they were very nice."
After the practice session, Eala and coach Joan Bosch stayed to sign autographs and pose for photos with fans gathered around the practice courts.