Alex Eala Reveals The Fictional Man Who Set Her Standards High For Love

After making history at the Wimbledon Championships, Alex Eala has become a source of pride for the Philippines and for young Filipinas chasing their own dreams in sports. At just 21, Alex became the first Filipino tennis player to advance to the fourth round of Wimbledon after defeating former world No. 3 Iga Świątek. Although her run ended after facing Italian tennis player Jasmine Paolini, who reached world No. 4 in 2025, Alex had already shown the world exactly what she’s capable of.

For all her fierce competitiveness on court, Alex is also a romance girlie at heart.

In her interview with Karen Davila, uploaded on July 16, Alex shared her love for Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice, and admitted that its leading man, Mr. Darcy, has definitely raised the bar.

ICYDK, the beloved romance follows Elizabeth Bennet and the aloof Mr. Darcy, whose slow-burn love story—and the 2005 film starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen—made him one of fiction's most enduring romantic heroes.

"I would love to have my Mr. Darcy, but [it] does not need to be in the near future," she said. "I have a lot of time. I'm very focused on my career right now, but Mr. Darcy is a hell of a guy, so the standards are [high]."

And we really can't blame her (shoutout to romance fans out there! 👋). While fans want nothing but the best for Alex, it's clear that she already knows what she deserves. Her perspective also seems shaped not only by the books she loves but by her own experiences.

When Karen asked if she had ever gone through heartbreak outside of her career, Alex answered honestly: "Yes. Yes. I'm not seeking anything at the moment. But if it happens to be, it happens to be."

Alex also opened up about how different her childhood looked compared to many people her age. Because of her commitment to tennis, she spent years heading straight to tennis after school, chasing her dreams in ruffled socks and light-up shoes—a memory she recalled during her winning speech following her third-round Wimbledon victory.

While her path looked different from that of many people her age, it's one Alex says she'd choose all over again. "I didn't go to the prom. No, never. Never akong nagka-prom date, but I would definitely choose the experiences that I had as a kid or as a teenager over, I guess, what people would consider a normal experience," she told Karen.

But now, Alex seems to be finding time to enjoy some of those girlhood moments in her own way. Just days after her Wimbledon journey ended, she was spotted at Bad Bunny's concert in Stockholm, Sweden, looking all glammed up, dancing, and making memories with her girls.

On July 13, she also shared a late upload titled "A Day In Stockholm," a video edit capturing her fun-filled girls' day out following her Wimbledon run. The clips showed the group exploring city, filming playful videos, and enjoying the ultimate girls' night back at their hotel room—dancing, laughing, and jumping on top of the beds to Metro Station's "Shake It". If there was ever any doubt, consider this proof that Alex is a certified girls' girl.

Now, it's back to business for the tennis star, who has since returned to the Philippines for her much-awaited homecoming celebrations. During a reception at Malacañang Palace on July 13, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. praised the young athlete for the pride she has brought to the country.

"You have made the Philippines proud. You have reminded Filipinos what a great race Filipinos are because we produce someone like you," he said.

Alex has also been making time for the fans who have supported her throughout her journey, with a series of meet-and-greets and appearances across Metro Manila.

Currently ranked World No. 29 in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, Alex will return to the court for the WTA 500 Mubadala DC Open in Washington, D.C., which will run from July 27 to August 2.

We're sooo ready for you, Alex! 🎾