Alexandra Eala: the Filipina trailblazer taking Asian tennis to new heights

In her first podcast interview, Alexandra Eala joins The Sit-Down as she continues a brilliant start to 2026. Fresh from her semifinal finish in Auckland, Eala sat down with Matt and Viv in Pod Laver Arena as she was preparing to make her Australian Open main-draw debut. The 20-year-old has gone on to win 10 of 16 matches this year and surged from outside the top 50 to a career-high No.31 since January. The rankings peak follows a memorable week in Dubai where she upset top-10 player Jasmine Paolini en route to the quarterfinals. It came less than a year after the breakthrough run that placed her firmly on the global radar. With upsets of AO 2025 champion Madison Keys and world No.2 Iga Swiatek, Eala stormed into the semifinals and cracked the world's top 100. She also electrified a passionate fanbase, and her matches are now famous for the atmospheric support she receives from the Philippine diaspora as she continues making history for her country. The success comes amid an upward trend for Asian tennis — particular for Southeast Asian women — as Eala brings fresh energy and new storylines to tennis. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotify  Host handles:@Viv_Christie@MattyATSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.