Southeast Asia's pride praised by legend, predicted to go far at the 2026 Australian Open

The accomplishments in 2025 will be the stepping stone for the Filipino athlete to pursue bigger victories in the next season.

Chinese tennis legend Li Na has offered special praise for Alexandra Eala after personally watching the young Filipino compete at the MGM Macau Tennis Masters exhibition. According to Li, Eala's playing style, attitude, and character convinced her that the 20-year-old could make a mark at the Australian Open which starts in mid-January.

Last weekend, Macau became the center of attention as it hosted a mixed team exhibition tournament featuring many notable tennis stars worldwide. Li Na – the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam and once ranked world No. 2 – was invited to captain a team including Alexandra Eala, Juncheng Shang, and Ugo Humbert.

During her debut in Macau, Eala played two matches. In the mixed doubles, the world No. 53 partnered with "Jerry" Shang but lost 5-7, 6-7(1) to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Wu Yibing. This match drew special attention as Davidovich Fokina was originally scheduled to play with Mirra Andreeva, but due to Andreeva’s illness, the organizers had to adjust, resulting in an unusual trio of three male players on the court.

On the next day, Andreeva recovered enough to return and face Eala in singles. Although the Filipino player lost 4-6, 2-6, Li Na expressed satisfaction with her young protégé’s performance. Having won the Australian Open in 2011 – becoming the first Asian to claim a Grand Slam title – the former Chinese star understands well the pressure young players face in Melbourne.

"I really admire her personality. She is still very young but has gained a lot of experience and plays very well.", Li Na shared, also expressing confidence that Eala can advance far at the Australian Open.

The 2026 Australian Open will mark a significant milestone in Alexandra Eala's career as she will participate in the main draw for the first time. In the past three seasons, the Filipino player was eliminated in the qualifiers. This time, with evident growth and the endorsement of a legend like Li Na, she enters Melbourne with the chance to write a new chapter for Southeast Asian tennis.