Eala recalls meeting fashion icon Anna Wintour

Manila Times - Oct 8, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — While matches and tournaments can sometimes be gut-wrenching for Alex Eala, the Filipina tennis star said she had the jitters when she met Anna Wintour, fashion icon and former editor-in-chief of Vogue. Eala had the privilege of sitting in the front row, beside Wintour at the New York Fashion Week, recalling how nerve-wracking the experience was. “I was so nervous. She is one of those who has such a presence and an aura. You know how much she’s done on women, for fashion. The impact that she has,” Eala told Maria Sharapova at the Pretty Tough podcast.  Meeting Wintour at her office, Eala also bared that it took some time for her to decide on what she would wear.  “You don’t know how… A month before I found out… I scoured the whole internet, and I was like. I have no idea what I’m going to wear. I could go this… I was like, I’m going to an office; it has to be fashion.” Wintour also praised Eala, comparing her potential influence to former No. 1 players like Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. “We had the young Filipino star. You know, you could see even in such a young star how interested she is...

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