← Served with Andy Roddick
Served with Andy Roddick
Alex Eala Joins the Show, Alcaraz Upset, Iga Fires Coach & Osaka Retirement Hints?
01:03:20
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Interviewer (Host)
The Phenomenon the Pride of the Philippines, Alex Yala. Welcome to served.
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Alex Eala
Hello everyone.
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John Wertheim
When did you realize you were representing something much bigger in Melbourne?
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Alex Eala
I saw a couple clips of the lines and the people. I was at a loss for words. I think I was a little in denial.
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Interviewer (Host)
Walk us back a year ago, four days before the Miami event.
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Alex Eala
I have to say, that week was probably the craziest week of my life. I came into the tournament, I was a wild guard and I hadn't really had a lot of success. So yeah, safe to say it was a big surprise for me.
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Interviewer (Host)
You're moving at 13 years old across the world to play tennis.
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Alex Eala
I look back at it and I'm like, oh my goodness, I moved out at 13.
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Interviewer (Host)
You go to the Rapha Nadal Academy. Do you remember the first time you practiced next to Rafa? Were you intimidated or was it just all excitement?
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Alex Eala
Yes. So the first interaction with Rafa.
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Interviewer (Host)
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Producer Mike
Welcome to Served. Presented by ServiceNow. And this is producer Mike and as you can see from this Wide shot. There is no Andy Roddick, but we do have a John Wertheim who is in Paris. John, Andy is on his way back from an exhibition in Brazil. I wasn't invited. You weren't invited. So we're stuck here doing. Doing the hard work.
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John Wertheim
Oh, man. You think he's in transit? We think he did okay getting back from Brazil.
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Producer Mike
Yeah, I think he's in transit. He sounds.
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Interviewer (Host)
It sounds.
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Producer Mike
Sounded like it was really good. I think he. He had some planes, trains and automobiles on the way there, but he. He grinded out some fun matches, I think, with one Andre Agassi and Del Potro and some others. So excited to hear his stories when he gets back.
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John Wertheim
We'll grill him about it when he's back.
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Producer Mike
Well, on the back end of this episode, we have one Alex Yala, which I believe we were teasing all last week. Andy was here for that. So luckily, you don't have to hear me pretend like I know what I'm talking about through that awesome interview. And that'll come in after the break. But, John, I think we have some headlines from Miami that we should hit on. Also have a little bit of a headline. Potentially out of. Out of Wimbledon. Correct.
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John Wertheim
Yeah, let's. Let's. You want to timestamp this?
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Producer Mike
Yeah, let's time stamp it.
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John Wertheim
Monday afternoon, my time. Monday morning, your time. So we're midway through Miami, so just bear that in mind. Results are ongoing. Where. Where do you want to start? Bunch of news items in the last 48 hours or so.
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Producer Mike
Well, I think one. Let's. Maybe. Let's start with one subcorta taking out world number one, Carlos Alcaraz. 635764. Uh, he had more winners than Alcaraz. 33 over 30, and he becomes the first American to take down a number one at the Miami Open since one. Andy Roddick beat Federer in 08. What'd you think about that performance since 08?
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John Wertheim
Wow.
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Producer Mike
Yeah.
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John Wertheim
Um, yeah, I mean, Baron, you know, it's quarter.
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Alex Eala
Let.
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John Wertheim
Let's deal with Korda more than Carlos. What do you. What do you say we go half full, which is. This has got to be far and away the biggest win of his career, um, to be the number one player. Do it in Miami. Bear in mind that. What is this, mid March? So eight weeks ago, he lost to a college senior at the previous major, but he entered that San Diego event, which he talked about as being really significant. Goes on. Wins Del Rey. This is always a player we have spoken highly of, sometimes maybe too highly, but this is a Guy that. Let's leave the pedigree aside. I mean, this is a former major junior champion. This is someone whose talent is obvious to the naked eye. He's had some nice wins, he's won some five hundreds. It's really been as much about staying healthy in closing matches as it has raw talent. So, yeah, I mean, any given day, if you've told me Sebastian Corridor was going to play this well and take out Carlos Alcaraz, you'd say that's about right. This is a really good sign, though, for him. Big win. And for a guy who lost again early in Australia to somebody who was undergrad at Columbia, it's been a terrific eight weeks yet again. Another indication of how fast fortunes can change. I don't know how much time we want to spend on Carlos, but yeah, for a guy who looked awfully good for the first two months of the year and was undefeated and seemed to be pulling himself away from Jannik, Sinner won that major his seventh, not the sunshine double he wanted. And you know, it's not a dissimilar loss to, to Medvedev and Indian Wells, but not often that, you know, sandwiched between. It's interesting, you know, you lose to Medvedev, okay, you know, not a result you want, but you can live with that. Sandwiched in between was, I thought, a pretty authoritative win over Fonseca and then losing a match to Sebastian Korda. So, yeah, now some question marks swirling around Carlos Alcaraz. Now, wouldn't panic too much, but I think the real headline here is just this is a career win for Sebastian Korda and hopefully this suggest that there's more big tennis because this is not a surprise given the way we've talked about him really since before COVID and just the body hasn't cooperated. He's let a few opportunities slip through his fingers, but maybe he is maturing into the top 10 player that a lot of us always thought he would be.
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Producer Mike
Yeah, we'll definitely be asking Andy about Carlos in the Miami Open recap next week, and I am interested to hear his thoughts on that. That Falseca match had such big energy, you know, it had such. Is there ever a hangover for some of these players when you go into a match like that, you. You battle it out, you, you win and then you come into a match with Corda and then is there a hangover? I'd be interested to talk with Andy about that. One player that has been stoking retirement rumors was Naomi Osaka. She fell to Talia Gibson and she said afterwards. And this is about her being a mom. I want to be the best mom I can, but sometimes I feel like I know what I have to do to become a really good player. And it's very difficult because for me, I want to win titles and I want to be the best player I can. But if I have to sacrifice having a lot of time with my daughter, I'd rather not do it. What's your take on that, John?
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John Wertheim
Yeah, I don't know if this is a. But she's made these kind of hints before. You are accustomed to winning majors and being the highest compensated female athlete on the planet. And you've been at the very pinnacle. It must be really hard to go years without winning a title. And just. So, yeah, you win a match, you lose a match. Sometimes you win a match that you've got to gut out. Sometimes your body doesn't cooperate. I mean, she's living a very sort of normal, customary existence for a lot of tennis players, but not for somebody who won four majors when she was still in her early 20s. And you sort of say you're used to the mountaintop. You know, you're used to eating five star meals. How many times can you go to Chipotle? It's perfectly good, but it's not what you're accustomed to. Compounded by the fact that you have a daughter at home. And yeah, I mean, Australia, you'll recall she had a very strange tournament and they pulled out before a match against an Australian player citing a physical injury. She played Sabalenka. These are two players that were often twinned together, ironically enough, have the same number of majors, but really two players at two very different levels right now and then loses, as you say, Talia Gibson, by the way, can we spend like 30 seconds on her?
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Producer Mike
Unbelievable. She's five and one against top 20 players. In the last three weeks. She's beat Alexandrova, Clara Tossen, Jasmine Paolini, all at Indian Wells and then Osaka and Eva Jovic in Miami. So far she was ranked 112 before Indian Wells and now she is apparently 68 and still rising.
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John Wertheim
Yes, 68, I think was entering the tournament. So she probably will be a top 50 player. She also, I mean, we. She has that Australian flag next to her name. She's from Western Australia, though, which I think is worth pointing out. Perth is not. They have a great event there, but Perth has not pumped out players, at least recently, quite the way the eastern side of the country has done. But no, Talia Gibson's been A real revelation so far this year. A wild card, as you say, outside the top 100amonth ago and now arrowing into the top 50. Very nice win for her. But yeah, I think Naomi Osaka is really at a crossroads and we've seen this with other top players on the women's side in particular, but not exclusively when you're accustomed to winning majors, how long will you tolerate. Naomi Osaka is not disappointing anyone. There are a lot of players who would kill for the kind of results she has. But again, you're used to competing for majors and now you're losing in the early rounds of run of the mill events and you have a daughter at home. How much longer are you going to keep doing that before you need to see some changes or make some changes? I think, I think she said she'll be back for the clay, which is interesting. I think her statement said she's not going to play Charleston, but she'll play a couple of clay events hopefully and then definitely Roland Garro. So maybe with a few more results we'll see. But yeah, you win four majors by the time you're in your early 20s and when you're 28 and it's a win or two and then a loss and then the body gives in and you're away from your daughter, it does beg the question, how much longer can you tolerate this? So we shall see.
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Producer Mike
We're gonna ask Kim Kleisters about that tomorrow on on Love All. So tune in for her opinion. She obviously has some personal experience being a mom and then grinding it out on tour. So curious about to hear what she, she has to say. Next up, Wimbledon is set to introduce video review technology on six courts in 2026. This is beyond the electronic line calling that was introduced in 2025. The new video review lets players challenge chair umpire judgment calls. This will be available on center court, court number one, number two, number three, court 12 and court 18. What's your take on this, John?
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John Wertheim
Yeah, so some I, I'll read this from you. Somebody sent me the, the players got a memo a few days in advance of this and sort of on the condition I not break it, I send. So someone sent this to me. It's a little strange. Players will be allowed to review specific judgment calls made by the chair umpire, including not up, which I, I guess is double bounce foul shot. Not sure I'm familiar with that phrase in tennis. And touch either on a point ending call when a player immediately stops play, or at the completion of the point. So I think that's Interesting. First of all, we're going to this Medvedev rule we talked about last week, where in theory you don't have to call it instantly. You can play at the point and then ask for it at the end of the point. Here's my issue with this, which I think it's great. We should embrace technology. We should minimize human error. Here's a trivia question for you guys. I don't know if it's a thought exercise. So this is only happening. Let me see. I think you said it right on center court. Court 1, Court 2, Court 3, Court 12 and Court 18.
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Producer Mike
Correct.
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John Wertheim
Can you name me another sporting event where everyone is competing simultaneously and yet some athletes have access to technology and advantages and benefits and sort of competition enhancing enhancements and others don't. It's like saying if you're playing in an NBA playoff game west of the Mississippi, you're going to have four officials. Everyone else gets three. I just, I know it's it's cost and it's technology. I just find it so bizarre that everyone's playing for the same trophy. Right.
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Producer Mike
Major League Baseball just announced that they're going to allow challenges from the catcher, the pitcher, the batter, and all those, and they're going to be able to direct challenge. That'd be like if you'd be allowed to do that, but only on Sunday Night Baseball you'd be allowed to do that.
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Interviewer (Host)
Exactly.
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Producer Mike
Only if you're playing in a primetime game. If you're playing Kansas City, Cincinnati in the middle of the doldrums of summer, like, too bad. Just play. That's interesting.
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John Wertheim
I, I guess we shouldn't, you know, any embrace of technology is probably, you know, something we should applaud. But I just, I, I feel.
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Producer Mike
But is it hard to embrace it everywhere else? Like, that's what I'm trying to understand. Like, it's, Are there not cameras on every court? Like, can you not?
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John Wertheim
Honestly, it's a balance sheet question. I mean, do you want to do for Hawkeye review for the previous what we had, which ironically enough, by the way, just sidebar. Hawkeye was often cited as sort of an early example of AI and it's not exactly where the ball lands, but we're going to do is we're going to take all of these data points and it's going to be generative. So it's going to get better with every call. AI has now expanded. Perhaps you've heard well beyond whether a ball hits a sideline or not. But no, I think, honestly, I think it's just an expense. I just find it absolutely bizarre that your court assignment decides what kind of access you have to technology. But anyway, Wimbledon is embracing this. And as you say, I think it's important. It's not just line calls, but it's things like hindrances and things like double bounces. And I think it's a good thing that it's not incumbent on the player to be. You can play the point and then make your challenge. I think all this is probably a net positive, but I'm just. I'm so hung up on the fact that some players have access to this and other players at the exact same event, in the exact same round, competing for the exact same trophy don't have access. So, anyway, that's my.
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Producer Mike
I don't envy the tournament director scheduling for some of these matches.
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Interviewer (Host)
Yeah.
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Producer Mike
So then as we were coming on the air, Jon, there was some breaking news on Instagram. IGA has parted ways with wimfacet, thanking him and saying that the rest of her team will remain unchanged. Obviously, you just sent it to me. Are you hearing anything beyond just the Instagram post?
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John Wertheim
No. I mean, I think it's not just her results that have been mystifying, and they won Wimbledon together less than a year ago, so this has not been an abject failure. If you read iga, some of those remarks she gave, especially to the Polish media, that I wish I could cite and attribute by name and don't have in front of me, but they deserve credit because they really did some good reporting on that. But no, after losing to Magdalene, Lynette, IGA's remarks were really sort of jarring to read how she's lost in her. I'm paraphrasing here, but she's lost in her head and she's an overthinker anyway. And for as much success as she's had, this is an unprecedented feeling where she's thinking too much. This was not the sign of a happy athlete feeling good about her performance or the direction of her career. It's no secret that it's an interesting camp, the Swante camp. And sort of the delegation of duties is not like it is with other players. I'm not sure this was a surprise move. Vimfa said another player will swoop him up. I think Andy and I have talked about. This is a guy, you go, he's not a. Look at me. Instagram guy. He's not doing his own videos every day. But you go and look at his track record and his success. I mean, Kim One of many players with whom he's won a major. Azarenka and Kerber and Naomi Osaka and of course, Wimbledon last year. I mean, this is a guy who's going to be sought after. We'll see who iga, what the coaching situation. This is the second fairly significant coaching change in barely a year for iga, so we'll see a year and a half. So we'll see what happens with her. And I think another player will swoop up. Wimficet. But no, I mean, IGA's had a rough post Wimbledon. She's taken on a lot of strange losses. She doesn't look happy out there. Her record against the top players is not what it used to be. Her play at smaller events, she's taken some losses. At bigger events, she's taken some losses. It does seem, rankings be damned, that she's really sort of dropped a level from where we were post Wimbledon. So now clay court season for her is now upon us. That's where she tends to make her bones. And it'll be interesting to see who fills that void and how, again, this is not your conventional camp and not your conventional divisions of labor. That said, I don't think this is a huge surprise, especially given her remarks after that defeat last week to Magdalenette.
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Producer Mike
Yeah, I mean, you just said it, right? She's heading into the comfort zone of. Of her season, right? On. On the clay. So maybe this is the best time to make a change like this. And there is no urgency to find somebody else to take that helm, Right?
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John Wertheim
Yeah, exactly. I mean, it's, It's. It's a. It's a point in the year, too, where, you know. Right. Where she can reset, head into clay and maybe do that with a new voice in her ear. But no, I mean, this is not. You know, we. We say this all the time, right? I mean, these careers are not linear and there are fluctuations, but IGA doesn't seem to be in a great headspace right now. Then again, we said the same thing after Roland Garros, and she won Wimbledon, so we wish her luck. You know who beat IGA in that match in Vinfussette's last match in her camp that caused this distress? Magdalenette. You know who Magdalenet then lost to in Miami? Who? Alexandra Ayala. How's that for a segue?
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Producer Mike
Yeah. And as we're recording this, she's going to take court against Moohova here in about 30 minutes. She plays at 11am on Monday, so. So we aren't aware of if she won or not in the round of 16 and made it back to the semifinals for a second year in a row. But, you know, it didn't matter. It didn't matter knowing what her results are when we had this conversation with her. And honestly, I couldn't have been more impressed just listening to that. And I feel like, you know, as you and Andy said, well, everybody here, your guys conversation afterwards, she's just, she's incredible. She's incredible. But tell us a little bit more about her rise of those people that don't know much more and they're going to learn a lot after the break.
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John Wertheim
Yeah, I mean, Andy and I were talking about how this was one of these podcasts where you just wanted to listen. She's 20. You would never know that given sort of the wisdom and perspective and the fact that she is doing it representing this country that has warmed to her and also has so little tennis tradition. I mean, I keep getting back to the fact that I'm not sure if you're her, who do you lean on? Who do you look to? Who else has gone through this experience? I mean, it is really, it is a singular fact, pattern or where you have a young player representing a country that really has no tennis tradition to speak of. And we were sort of. I don't know if I quite articulated as I wanted to, but her brother played college at tennis at Penn State. And I was listening to her talk and I kept thinking like, she's gone a completely different route. And you know what? You don't have to go to college to have wisdom, perspective, opportunity. She's wise beyond her years. She's playing great tennis. She was a joy to talk to. And it's great, I think, for tennis that we have this completely new demograph. You know, five years ago, I can guarantee you, when you were in the WTA planning meetings, the large contingent of fans from the Philippines coming out with their flags to matches was not part of too many discussions. But here they are, and here she is, and she's a delight.
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Producer Mike
Yeah. Well, after the break, Andy will be back in the chair. I will be officially relieved of these painful duties. And you guys are watching. Served. Presented by ServiceNow AI is only as
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Interviewer (Host)
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Alex Eala
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Interviewer (Host)
All right, welcome back to served. Brought to you by ServiceNow. As promised, the phenomenon, the pride of the Philippines up to a career high ranking this week of 29 in the world. Back where it all started a year ago or at least where we got to know her in professional tennis. Alex Yala. Welcome to Served.
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Alex Eala
Hello everyone. Thanks for having me.
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Interviewer (Host)
It's so great to have you. Now I want to start with, obviously there's this epic rise and I want to get to your world and how kind of you see it from you looking out at the fans that we're seeing that are coming to watch you, it's just all so fascinating. And congratulations on the last year. It's been so much fun to watch. But I, I kind of want to go back, right? Because it's. As sports fans, sometimes we, we kind of get caught up and we think things have been like this forever, right? But it was a year ago. Walk us back a year ago, like four days before the Miami event, right? And then could you have imagined at that moment take away the year and everything that's happened since. But even just that tournament, beating three former major winners, including the woman who had just won the last major and an all time great in. In Igaontech, just kind of walk us through the progression of that tournament, I
- [23:15]
Alex Eala
have to say that week was probably the craziest week of my life. I came into the tournament around ranked 140. I was a wild guard, and I was obviously super looking forward to Miami Open, just because it's kind of, it's, you know, when you're playing in the ITF circuit, one, you know, having a wild card into, into a 1000 is, is a highlight event. So, you know, it kind of highlights your year. So every year I was lucky enough and fortunate enough to, to have gotten the Miami Wild Card, so it would be like a highlight for every single one of my years. So that was no, that was no different. I came into it super excited, of course, wanting to do well, and I hadn't really had a lot of success in my previous Miami runs. So, yeah, safe to say it was a big surprise for me.
- [24:09]
Interviewer (Host)
And walk us through kind of that progression because, listen, you're 140, which means you're not getting direct entry, but every person 140 in the world knows how to play this game. Just for our listeners, you are a professional player. You're not overawed by just being in a tournament. But then you run up against people who have won Slams and then you start beating them. And did you feel, you know, kind of the confidence building and then kind of when you know you've done it once, did that make it easier after you beat us to Panko? Does it make it easier when you come up against Matty and then so on and so forth and then all of a sudden you know, the legend iga?
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Alex Eala
No, I don't think that it makes it easier. Every single match is so tough. And now that I've been in the circuit for, for longer than I was, I'm realizing that even more doesn't matter what rank the other player is. Right. And I guess my run and, you know, the breakouts of so many other young WTA players is a testament to that. Yeah, but for me, it almost got even harder in regard to that Miami run because of course you got Ostapenko, like, never mind that the rankings were getting better, but as you go deeper in the tournament, you get a little bit more nervous because the, the round has a little higher stakes, you're a little bit more tired because you have more load from the matches, so circumstances become a little bit more difficult. But then, of course, as the tiredness is heightened, so is the pressure, but so is the motivation. And I think every round I just got more and more motivated.
- [25:49]
John Wertheim
When you were playing these Smaller events. I'm sure you had your fans, but I'm also sure it's nothing like what it is now. I mean, it's really, you know, this. I mean, it's a phenomenon when you play these tournaments. When did you realize you were representing more than yourself? That this really had a symbolic dimension to it? And how did you mediate that? I mean, how did you sort of process the fact that you weren't just a tennis player, you were representing something much bigger?
- [26:13]
Alex Eala
I think I was fortunate enough to. Even though after Miami, it was kind of a breakout and I got a lot more exposure and attention after that specific tournament, I would consider myself fortunate enough to have been exposed to a certain level of kind of fame or being well known even when I was in the ITF circuit. I think if I had compared the fans I had or the people that would come to watch my matches compared to other people, my rank even at 150 was a little bit more. Definitely nothing compared to now. I think that this year, 2026, the start of the season, was when I seriously noticed that it was coming. The people were really coming. They were buying tickets, they were taking time out of their day, and it's wow in the start, first couple of weeks. So I would say Auckland, Australia, and Manila was really a lot, especially Australia and Manila. Melbourne, my match in Melbourne was. I was, like, at a loss for words. When I saw the videos after. After my match, I didn't see them during or before. I was kind of just in the zone. But I saw a couple clips of the lines and the people, and I was really, like, surprised. And it's hard to. I think I was a little in denial. It's hard to accept or, like, really see yourself being someone with that much influence or that much impact. Just because I've been myself my whole life and, you know, nothing changed from much from. In terms of who I am from 2025 to 2026. It's just that my success kind of skyrocketed, which I'm very thankful for. So, yeah, after I kind of broke that barrier of, like, not accepting, like, oh, I don't think I'm really famous every. Every week, they just kept coming. And I was like, okay, you have to accept this, absorb it. You're here. It's a really good position. And. And I started to just be so grateful and. Because I don't know how long this is gonna last either. I don't know if it's. If it's gonna be forever. It's definitely not gonna be forever. So I try to enjoy as much as I can while it's happening.
- [28:44]
Interviewer (Host)
I have so many questions that I've jotted down just during that answer. But the thing that I didn't really. No, this is great. I'm endlessly curious about this. But you said you kind of made mention to when you were 150, it felt like you still had a following, a fan base, people who were curious from your country. Now as far as lived experience goes, I can say pretty certain that that doesn't happen for most people. Right? Like that's not normal. Can you talk about the connectivity between you and what you're doing and the way that the Philippines now relating to tennis and what is that relationship? What's the attraction both ways? Because it feels like you're super appreciative of it. But then it feels kind of like a give and take relationship as opposed to, you know, you're lucky to come see me.
- [29:37]
Alex Eala
Oh, that's a loaded question. I think. I can't really speak for me. I mean how I approach it is how many people in the world are able to experience this crowd. And for one, I'm living my dream. This is what I dream to do. Become a professional tennis player. Play against the best, be on the best courts and they're full. So how many people in their lives, even on tour are able to really experience that? So for me, I'm always super grateful because they're able to heighten my experience and you know, it's definitely a give and take. I do my best when I can. People tell me that I have, I'm a role model for people back home. So I do my best to put on my best attitude. I know that for a lot of the people I'm known as like the Filipina on tourism and I'm the only Filipina that people really see in, in high level tennis. So when they think of the Philippines in, in regards to tennis, they think of me. So I, I really do my best to, to be on my best behavior, represent the best of the Philippines and.
- [31:08]
Interviewer (Host)
Yeah, well, you, you, you do a great job. I mean in, in looking through this. I mean it's, it's insane to me that you go from you know, 140 last year, just 12 short months ago to now there's you know, collaborations with Nike, with you know, the national flower as a logo. So you can say you feel lucky, but also like, it seems like you have, you're refreshingly aware that you are a bit of a cultural steward but, you know, just trying to connect the dots because I can't relate to it at all. But a year ago, wild card into the tournament, and now you're. You're kind of making specialized logos with Nike and working with these brands. That's. That. That's different.
- [31:53]
Alex Eala
Yeah, I think it's. For me, it's really just all about balance. And I think if you. What I'm trying to do is if I could master when I need to be quote, unquote, like, arrogant or cocky or. No, let's. Let's use the word confident. If I can master the times I need to be confident, and then I'm aware of the times I need to be humble and grateful, I think that's an amazing recipe because I'm able to compete, I'm able to do my thing on the court, but then I'm also aware of how I am, the responsibilities I hold off the court, what I represent, and I think that just makes a great mix.
- [32:36]
John Wertheim
Talk a little bit about your backstory. For fans, you are a trailblazer. You're a pathbreaker. By definition, though, that means there wasn't much before it. You were once described to me, by the way, as the one. You were the sister of the kid who played for Penn State. Now you're a top 30 player. You were introduced by your brother as a. Tell us a little bit. How do you discover tennis in a country that doesn't have much of a tennis history? How did you end up at the Nadal Academy? Just sort of give fans out there just a brief sense of your backstory.
- [33:06]
Alex Eala
So I have a brother, an older brother. He's three years older, and he played at Penn State. He was the one who first got into tennis with my grandfather. So my grandfather was my coach. I started tennis at three or four, up until I left for Spain, which was at 13, so 10 years. My grandfather was our coach. He had no formal training whatsoever. He read a lot of books. You know, his time was like, Pete Sampras, all of that. He read a lot of those tennis magazines. So if you see my. My. My, like, technique when I was, like, 12, like, it was wonky and. But, yeah, so it was really a family thing, and it was. It was very tough love kind of situation. But I think what I learned most in those years was really the foundation of being a good competitor was, you know, it's. It's that fighting spirit, it's that grit. And, yeah, tennis was never very popular. We always had to. It's. It. It was very costly My parents, of course, sacrificed a lot of time and effort. My grandfather was. It was costly because you had to travel all the time if you wanted to compete at such a level, even. Even at juniors, even 14 under. And so when the opportunity came for me to train abroad, I took it with both hands and I clung to it. Yeah.
- [34:40]
Interviewer (Host)
What does that look like, though? I mean, we hear this in tennis sometimes. People say, well, I went to train abroad. I mean, you're moving at 13 years old across the world to play tennis and to learn how to be a better tennis player. Were you intimidated or was it just all excitement because you don't know any better at that point in your life? Do you remember your first day at the academy and kind of what you were thinking and feeling when you got there?
- [35:06]
Alex Eala
Yes, well, more than that, I remember the day it was brought up to me. So I won Les Petitas, which is the 14 under tournament in France. And so the academy reached out to my parents. And I remember my dad was driving me to school and he. He brought it up in the car kind of casually. I was probably like 12, and I was just. I thought it was so out, like, absurd. I thought it was just something like, okay. But I. If the opportunity, I. I found out the opportunity was actually serious and I was like, yes. I was like, for me, yes, yes, yes. I'll go, I'll go, I'll go. And my parents were like, okay, let's talk it through. Like, we still have things to decide. And in my mind, I'm like, I don't know what there is to decide. Like, of course, yeah, but. So it was definitely a little bit of. I didn't know any better. And then I went and I was already. Of course, it was a huge change of scenery. Everything is different. But I was fortunate enough to be relatively well traveled by that age, you know, And I already had this rigorous routine of tennis training school. Like, I would. I would wake up at 4:45, I'd be in the gym at 5, 5 till 6, and I was like 11, I was 5 till 6. And then I'd go to school at 7:30, and then until 3pm and then I'd go training at 5 to 7, homework, dinner, repeat, you know, So I already had that rigorous schedule. And I remember I came to the academy and Training started at 8, and I was like, oh, I have so much time.
- [36:53]
John Wertheim
I can sleep in a weekend.
- [36:57]
Alex Eala
Yeah. But then now I look back at it and I'm like, oh, my goodness. I moved out at 13, you know, like That's. That's insane. But it did help. I was with my brother. The academy, of course, is built for those types of. Types of situations where there are young kids, you know, boarding and my parents were, you know, flew in quite frequently, so it made it easier. Yeah.
- [37:24]
Interviewer (Host)
You go to the Rafa Nadal Academy. Do you remember the first interactions? The first time you practiced next to Rafael? Any takeaways? What was that relationship like? How involved is he with the. With the juniors there?
- [37:37]
Alex Eala
Yes. So the first interaction with Rafa, like in the car, in the academy space around that time was not actually in the academy. So before we did like a trial, like a what? We go there, like do like one week. We'll see how it goes, you know, so my parents and my. My brother and I, we flew over and in the Madrid airport, we just happened to pass by Rafa on the way to his academy and we, Loki, we kind of chased him down. Rafa, we're going to your. Well, this arrived. We're going to your academy. Can we take a pic? And. Yeah, he took a pic with us. So that was the first interaction I remember in Spain. So good way to start, I would say. And then after that, I don't really remember. It kind of just. He's there a lot. He's. He's. And he's very. He's very down to earth when you talk to him, of course, but. And he's. He asks questions and things like that, but it's just. He's rapa. So you're always just gonna be scared. Like, I'm always like, still scared. I don't know what to say. I always get very, very tongue tied. So. Yeah, I'll let you know. It doesn't get better. At least for me. It doesn't get easier.
- [38:57]
Interviewer (Host)
That's. That's. I love that. I felt the same way. I was always like, fine. And then I couldn't talk to Sampra Sur Agassi for the first two years I was on tour. Like, I. The only time I would stop talking was when I was around them. So good, so good, so good.
- [39:13]
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- [39:23]
John Wertheim
How did I not know Rack has Adidas?
- [39:24]
Alex Eala
Why do we rack for the hottest deal?
- [39:26]
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- [39:40]
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- [40:11]
Producer Mike
Protein is now at Starbucks and it's
- [40:13]
John Wertheim
never tasted so good.
- [40:14]
Producer Mike
You can add protein cold foam to your favorite drink or try one of our new protein lattes or matcha.
- [40:21]
John Wertheim
Try it today at Starbucks. Can I ask you, you are new. You know, you're a relative newcomer, but also the Filipino fan base is a newcomer as well. This is not a fan base that we're used to. One thing some of us have noticed, they're very polite. I don't know if you catch that on the court, but they're applauding your opponent. There's never any sort of booing. There's never any arguing about calls. It's a very sort of happy fan base, it seems. Tell us a little bit about what you are experiencing, apart from you're amazing, but can I have a selfie? What are you hearing? Just tell us a little bit more about all these people that are rooting for you.
- [40:58]
Alex Eala
I don't really know what to say. Filipinos are really amazing. I have to say. I have not met another. I have yet to cross paths with another nationality. That's so. That has that sense of community. I don't know how to describe it. It's like if you walk past another Filipino on the street, like, you'll know that they're Filipino right away. And yeah, we're, there's, there's never like any booing. I don't think that's. That's not our thing. That's never been our thing. I think we're just, we're there as a community because we have this shared sense of pride, of being Filipino. And I think seeing, seeing other Filipinos succeed makes us so happy. For example, when Mani Pacquiao was, you know, still very active, when you'd have fights, it was like a holiday. Like, crime rates would go down. Everyone would gather. You know, the families would gather, they'd have parties and stuff. So, yeah, we're very nationalistic. I guess we're proud of where we're from.
- [42:10]
Interviewer (Host)
I love that, and I love it fills me with pride. I know it's hard. We're asking you to kind of be objective about your life right now, and I know that can be hard sometimes. But I'll tell you, like, just hearing you talk and the way that you kind of relate to what you're going through, it fills me with pride. As someone who's been in tennis for a long time, and especially now that you're bringing an entirely new country fan base and making them tennis diehards, I want to say thank you and congratulate you for that. It's just phenomenal. And I think that I speak for tennis universe. I think we're all so proud. I do want to kind of. Let's set the kind of phenomenon aside for a second, and let's talk about kind of the interplay between that and then. Listen, all of these things can be amazing, but you still got to wake up and go to work, right?
- [43:02]
Alex Eala
You.
- [43:02]
Interviewer (Host)
What, what is the relationship between new responsibilities and, hey, listen, I might fill the seats, but I still have to try to win a match, right? Has that been an easy transition for you? Is it? Or is it pretty simple? Once I'm on the court, I'm on the court.
- [43:19]
Alex Eala
I think. Well, like I mentioned before, that it was all about balance. And I think one thing about me is that I know when I need to, like, lock in. I know when I need to, like, okay, and, and I know when I'm slipping a little bit. And I think one of the keys to this past year's success is also that I have a really great team, and we work so well together. We create this amazing environment, and they guide me in the right direction, and they keep me humble, I think. Yeah. And when I'm on court, I'm still really motivated. I think when I'm having fun and I, I, I'm learning to enjoy the grind, enjoy suffering. Yeah, I think, I think it's a recipe for success.
- [44:08]
Interviewer (Host)
Hopefully when someone breaks out like, like you have right in. In Miami last year, you, you, you. We've mentioned the players that you beat. Maybe going into the match, they didn't know the scouting report was, you know, she accepts pace well, and she can switch directions at a moment's notice and kind of keep you. You weren't letting the big hitters hit, right. Maddie was wanting to line up for forehands, and you were switching directions, and it was, it was. It was very effective. How have you had to deal with now the second time through the lineup? Whoever you play at Miami this year, it's. It's a little bit different, right? They, they. They know generally a game style. So has it been fun to kind of learn and. And. And have to make adjustments based on a scouting report that that's out there and that that works both ways also.
- [44:55]
Alex Eala
Yes, I do enjoy a tactical game. I love. I, I love tennis because it's. It's super physically demanding. It's a very physical sport. But it's. It's not only that. There's like, it's very emotional. It's super tactical. And in that sense, I love tennis because of that, because there's just so many things that make it unique, and it's kind of all you, you know, when you're. It is all you because you're out there, you're alone. And. Yeah, this year, I guess coming into this tournament, people will know me a bit more. There's more videos of me on the Internet, but that happens at all tournaments. It's, you know, a lot of people. I've gotten that question a couple times. Like now in. Going into Miami this year, people will know you, and last year, they didn't know you, but it's like that now every tournament. Like in Indian wealth, they knew me in, In Dubai, they knew me, you know, so Miami is so special to me because this is where everything kind of clicked. But at the same time, it's. It's a tournament. It's. It's another tournament. Things, you know, I have that experience. I have experience of playing tournaments, so anything can happen. I could go out, I could win the whole thing. I could go out, I can lose the first match, and if I don't get. If I don't get the win here, I'll get it in some other place.
- [46:27]
John Wertheim
So I love that. On the subject of that, that sounds so balanced, and I know you're so mature.
- [46:32]
Interviewer (Host)
How old are you actually? Like 47.
- [46:35]
John Wertheim
This is one of these things.
- [46:36]
Interviewer (Host)
Oh, my gosh. She's like. She just answers everything correctly.
- [46:39]
John Wertheim
Old soul is right.
- [46:40]
Interviewer (Host)
Goodness.
- [46:42]
John Wertheim
I heard a story. I have no idea if this is true, but truth doesn't always stop us on the serve podcast. But I heard you were asked to stick with me here and tell me, disabuse me if I'm wrong here, but I had heard at the beginning of the year you were asked about your goals, which is sort of the cliched question. One of your goals was apparently being more social with your colleagues. How's that going for you? Assuming that's true, how's that going?
- [47:07]
Alex Eala
I think it's going great. I think it's going really good. Yeah.
- [47:10]
John Wertheim
Name them. Who are your friends out there?
- [47:13]
Alex Eala
Okay. Yeah. I was literally just talking to Ivaliss and Zeynep Sonmes. I practiced today with Vicky Mboko. She's a great friend of mine, Francesca Jones. She texted me when I forgot to mention her in one of my other interviews. Okay. Fran. The half Filipinas Saab Santa Maria. Desiree is a good friend. I could keep going on, and I'm so sorry if I missed anybody, but, you know, I love you guys.
- [47:52]
Interviewer (Host)
No, we can, we can, we can. We'll just edit in. Voiceover.
- [47:55]
Alex Eala
Yeah, just edit.
- [47:58]
Interviewer (Host)
Just send us a list.
- [47:59]
Producer Mike
We'll just.
- [47:59]
Interviewer (Host)
The next episode would just be a list of friends. It's interesting because I'm not trying to grandstand here, but I try to turn back the clock. And for people trying to understand the last year, asking questions that aren't simple, they're not easy. You seem relatively at ease with. With everything that's. That's happened. Where does that come from? Like, who. Who is that? Are your parents similar? Or is this just something that I'm reacting to and I'm enjoying?
- [48:35]
Alex Eala
I think I just try to find the healthiest way to deal with all of this because I feel like so many things can go wrong, but at the same time, kind of like it's all about balance. Like, it is a big deal when I want it to be, and at the same time, like, it's not really a big deal because at the end of the day, I get to do what I love. And I feel like, you know, I've come such a long way. I'm really. I think it just comes from. Because of the fact that I'm. I'm super proud of myself and I'm really happy with. With what I've been able to do so far, and I know that I still have so much potential to go forward, and I'm. I'm looking to go. I'm. I'm really working for it. Yeah, I think I just. It's. It's a lot of gratitude. I. I've come a long way. I. You know, for the first 10 years of my tennis career, I was training in. In a court that was like, half basketball. So. Yeah. And. And now I'm playing. I've played on Wimbledon center court, which Is like, my ultimate dream, aside from winning Wimbledon. Yeah. So I. I'm really grateful. Yeah.
- [49:46]
Interviewer (Host)
These will be a little bit easier. Very simple. There's a player from the past. Actually, your friend you mentioned, Sonmez, she was on with Kim Kleisters, who has a show on our channel last week, and she was saying that she wishes her and Kim would have played it. Pick one past player and one current player that you have not played yet that you look forward to playing or wish you could have played from the past.
- [50:11]
Alex Eala
I have to say Serena Williams.
- [50:13]
Interviewer (Host)
Oh, you might get that chance.
- [50:14]
John Wertheim
I was going to say, you might. You might get that chance.
- [50:18]
Interviewer (Host)
I don't know. If I was a betting man, I'd say she's going to be in sometime this week, but, yeah, Serena's going to be.
- [50:23]
Alex Eala
Could I do two from the past?
- [50:25]
Interviewer (Host)
Yeah, sure. You can do whatever you want.
- [50:26]
Alex Eala
Okay, I'll do. I'll do Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.
- [50:30]
Interviewer (Host)
Amazing. And what about now? Who do you look forward to playing? Like, just results aside, right, we all want to, you know, make the semis and have those great matchups until we get to, you know, semis, finals, whatever. But if there was a player in the draw that you played, and maybe it wasn't an easy match, who would.
- [50:47]
John Wertheim
That.
- [50:47]
Interviewer (Host)
Who would you want to play that you haven't played yet?
- [50:50]
Alex Eala
Sabalenka, of course. I think everyone wants to play the number one in the world. I almost had the chance last year. It's exactly what my coach told me in the semifinals before I played Jessica and Jesse. And she was. And he was like. He said, alex, you're in the semifinals of a Master of Miami nonetheless, and you're. You're playing for us, a spot to play against the number one in the world. So this is where you want to be? I was like, yeah, this is where I want to be almost, maybe this year.
- [51:26]
Interviewer (Host)
Jw, listen, you've been so generous with your time. We don't get a lot of active players that, you know, might have to play a tournament the next couple of days, so. Super gracious of you to. Come on, jw. You got anything else before we let Alex Yala go?
- [51:40]
John Wertheim
I want to thank you, but I also want to thank your family. I feel like we owe your parents a standing ovation for doing great. No, I mean, I think one thing that I like to ask players is just what has to happen for you to be happiest on the tennis court? I mean, what's sort of the. What is everyone, you know, winning Wimbledon, fine. But, like, what's. When are you at your happiest in
- [52:00]
Alex Eala
this career from being transparent? Winning helps a lot.
- [52:05]
Interviewer (Host)
Yep.
- [52:05]
Alex Eala
Winning. Winning really helps a lot. It's difficult to be super happy when you're losing, but if I were to say anything aside from winning, it would just be to see the progress, to see that, you know, the work you're putting in is helping you become a better player. So if you can see that transition from practice to. To match and you see that you're becoming a better player and you're feeling it on court, then, then that makes you happy because you see that you're progressing.
- [52:36]
John Wertheim
I think I'm just think I'm hearing your. And I'm thinking you're. You're going to keep playing and I think you're going to find that your Filipino fan base is going to stay consistent. But I think you are winning a lot of fans throughout tennis. We have big courts in your future.
- [52:49]
Interviewer (Host)
The parts of your game that if you're looking back in Miami one year from now and you're saying, you know what, I would be really happy if these parts of my game were improved or if I was doing this, these one or two things better.
- [53:03]
Alex Eala
I think in if I look back at Miami last year, one would be my serve, another would be. If you have any tips, Andy Love song.
- [53:15]
Interviewer (Host)
I'm available anytime.
- [53:19]
Alex Eala
I think another would probably be I can't remember how much I went to the net last year, but I would say maybe that game I could use a bit more.
- [53:31]
Interviewer (Host)
Well, fantastic. Listen, we've said it already. You've been a gift to tennis and you're pulling all of those fans with you, and I hope you realize how great it is. It sounds like you have an amazingly mature perspective. Makes me feel worse about myself at your age, frankly. But continued success, all the best. And I'm so happy that you're able to enjoy it along the way. Just congratulations and the best of luck moving forward. Thank you for joining us on surf here.
- [54:03]
Alex Eala
Thank you so much. Thank you.
- [54:04]
John Wertheim
Good luck. Thanks.
- [54:06]
Interviewer (Host)
It's unbelievable. Sonmez was amazing on Love All. Mboko comes on and is like an adult. Yala's dealing with this crazy set of circumstances and seems to be measured like the future is. Coco is 21 and it feels.
- [54:22]
Producer Mike
Yeah, Coco's 21. Yeah.
- [54:23]
Interviewer (Host)
That's the thing we constantly have to remind ourselves about. But like jw, do you remember another moment in time? Like, I remember the 90s when everyone was like a psychopath. Like what? Like what is what is happening.
- [54:34]
John Wertheim
I mean, first I'm thinking about the 18 and 20 year olds I know in my life outside tennis who are still. I won't incriminate anyone. No, I mean, I think this is. It's a great advertisement for tennis. Amazing to talk to these. That is not a 20 year old we just spoke to. No, honestly, it speaks well of her, but it speaks really well of tennis too. I mean, this sport makes you appreciate things. It exposes you. It's not. All right, not everybody had four years of college. But you know what, There are a lot of other ways to become educated and mature and evolved and yeah, I think the WTA is in pretty good hands here. What about you?
- [55:11]
Interviewer (Host)
I think it's amazing and I'm glad. You know, the part that struck me during the interview a little bit was she's talking about one she said she won La Petite US was the term in France. That's like world championships. That's where you get the old footage of. That's where you get the footage of like Rafa versus Gasquet. I never played it because I wasn't good enough at that age. Like, it is the best of the best of the best. You go there and it's like little bodies playing like adults. That's what it looks like. It's absurd. So to win, that wasn't like a, oh, by the way, I won a tournament. That is the tournament to win. But then, you know, she said at 13, she's like, are you stressed about moving across the world? She goes, well, no, I was pretty well traveled at that point. And it's kind of like I have this continuous aha moment when you kind of dig on personalities and you go through different stories. It's really hard to be in a little silo echo chamber in the world of tennis. Like, maybe you're inside baseball and tennis, but you're having to deal with different cultures every week. You're having to represent where you're from, travel to places where you've never been. Like, that has to be life's teacher, right, jw? I mean, you're in a different. You still, even however many years on, you're still in a different place every week. I mean, that adds so much value. I think it adds value.
- [56:25]
John Wertheim
But I'm also not asked to compete when I land. I mean, you sort of forget you're not just learning a new language and eating new food. I mean, you're there to earn a living and to try to get better at what you're doing. I also, I'm Just, you know, it's very easy in a lot of these professions. Sort of, they're, they're people you emulate, they're mentors, they're people you can look to. One of the reasons I think the Venus and Serena story was so special was because really they were pathbreakers. And I think there's same thing here. You're, you're hitting balls with your grandpa in the Philippines. It's not like you can go to the club and they say, oh here's, here's the, here's how you need to, to string your racket or here's an event you should do that will help build your ranking. It's really, there are advantages to being a pioneer, but you sort of forget there's no one to teach you the ropes. And for her to be handling it this well is really something. And also, I mean, I think it was Ben Rothenberg that found they had the press conferences on YouTube of the Australian Open, pre match press conferences. She had more views than Alcaraz, Sinner, Novak and Medvedev combined. The level of her popularity, she has tapped into something and it's really, it could be crippling, it could be a very heavy weight. It could be, you know, and you get the feeling this is not the case here. This is something she's wearing very gracefully.
- [57:38]
Interviewer (Host)
The other thing that I think is just such a gift from this, this generation is continuing to crush like lazy tennis stereotypes. But you mentioned Venus and Serena and then you like, you see what Novak has done from where he's from. She's talking about playing on a tennis court that was half basketball court. Doesn't really fit the stereotype from like the early 80s where you're doing aperol spritzes and you know, headbands and all. Like this is, these are winning stories that weren't gifted from birth. These are earned. Like, listen to the schedule she was keeping on her grandpa's schedule when she was 12. Like, this is, this is absurd. I don't want to hear any more lazy tropes about, about tennis and you know, it being a country club. Yeah, that's, Is that dead? Can we kill it? Is it dead? Yeah.
- [58:31]
John Wertheim
And anyone that does the, oh, it's the precious sport for preppies at the country club. We have thousands of examples.
- [58:37]
Producer Mike
Yeah, there's plenty.
- [58:38]
Interviewer (Host)
They might be there, but they're not winning anything. Just so we're clear, you know, it's, it's amazing.
- [58:45]
John Wertheim
It's a player to watch. And I think she was very modest about it. But she's 100 points less. She had that breakout in Miami and that got her some notes. She's kept it up. She's at the career high ranking. If the next major were tomorrow, she'd be seated. She's 29 in the world. It's really an extraordinary story. And I don't. We're supposed to not root in the press box. I don't know how you don't root for a player like that.
- [59:12]
Interviewer (Host)
Never read those rules. Not me.
- [59:14]
John Wertheim
Yeah, you don't have to worry. You don't have to worry about a press box. Yeah.
- [59:17]
Interviewer (Host)
Practice. Talk about practice. Yeah, to your, to your point. And we were talking about this, actually I was talking about Sean when I got in here today. This isn't a breakout result. And then waiting for Normal to come back 52 weeks later when the rankings reset. Right. Took the opportunity, did it and is, is, is playing well a lot of weeks now. I mean, she's, she, listen, she's 29. Is this, this ain't the end. This is the beginning. Still, I don't care what happens in Miami. Some points fall off the progression and kind of her being able to continue to kind of put gas on the pedal as has been very impressive, irrespective of, of the attention, which I don't know, maybe, maybe Fonseca and her are like, they can relate to each other a little bit, but this is kind of like a, this is a new thing and I don't know, I mean, what's your take on this, jw? Because like Alcaraz comes out and he wins something and he becomes a phenomenon. But this, this like movement of support behind these young players, is it what, what is causing this?
- [60:21]
John Wertheim
Yeah, I mean, Alcaraz is not playing. He's. He's Spanish and proud of his country, but he's not playing for tens of thousands of Spanish fans every time he takes.
- [60:32]
Interviewer (Host)
They hadn't won a major football months before he came along.
- [60:34]
John Wertheim
Yeah, exactly. We talk about pioneers, path breaking. There's some players you could emulate if you were coming up from Spain and you're in your early 20s. No, I mean, it's really even. I mean, Fonseca has this to some extent as well. And obviously there's a big Brazilian contingent that we will see this week in Miami. But you know, there was a player this century that's one majors from Brazil. I don't believe there. If I'm reading this right, there's not another player from the Philippines ranked on the WTA right now. They want to check that But I mean, I think it's hard to exaggerate just how out of the blue this is. And yeah, for her to have. I was also struck, I mean, I sort of was kidding her about making her goal for the year to have more social relationships. What would you say, like Mboko Jovic just ticking off all these players? These are her peers as well. So she's making a point to the fact that we heard about it to list her goals as being more social with her colleagues. And the colleagues she's being social with are the players her age, her rankings, potential rivals, and those are the people she wants to become better friends with. Yeah, this was like a 30 minute infomercial for the virtues of tennis sort of channeled through Ayala.
- [61:49]
Interviewer (Host)
It was a lesson in self awareness. I'm sitting here at 43 years old, having been in this tennis game for a long time and I'm going, there's no way I could ever be that pragmatic, that self, aware, especially in the eye of the popularity storm and the responsibility that comes with that position, especially as she is the trailblazer from her country. Listen, I think it's been a great story. I was fascinated by it before we talked to her. I'm a bigger fan after having spoken to her. Huge fan. Can't say enough good things about what she's doing for the sport and what a gift she is to us. That'll be all for this week. I think we'll see you next week with a little Miami Open recap producer Mike. Anything else? What am I missing?
- [62:38]
Producer Mike
No, that's it. Check us out on surfpodcast.com, send all your questions in for Q and Andy. Check out Love all. It's all the good stuff.
- [62:46]
Interviewer (Host)
All right, we will see you next week, jw. Get some sleep. I know you're up late over there in Europe and hopefully you have enjoyed this episode as much as we have. We'll see you next week on Served. Brought to you by ServiceNow. We'll see ya. AI is only as powerful as the platform it's built on. With the ServiceNow AI platform, your AI data and workflows all work together, connecting every corner of your business. To see how you can put AI to work for people, visit servicenow.com AI agents.
- [63:27]
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