Maria Sharapova praises Alex Eala’s grit, rise in WTA rankings

Manila Times - Oct 8, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Former Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova expressed her admiration for Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala, whom she has been following on the WTA Tour for quite some time. Sharapova shared her praise for the Filipina netter during an episode of her podcast, Pretty Tough, which is currently a major hit across various streaming platforms. Sharapova admitted that she has watched several of Eala's matches, following her journey from breaking into the top 100 to reaching her current ranking as World No. 18 in the WTA standings. “I’ve been following you for several years now. I’ve watched your journey in the last few years flourish to where you are today,” Sharapova said. While Eala still has a long way ahead in her career, Sharapova believes the young star has what it takes to reach the pinnacle of success, citing how well she manages her matches. “You have a long way to go, but it is so impressive to see how you’ve handled and navigated everything,” Sharapova added. Among the highlights Sharapova pointed out was Eala's impressive run at Wimbledon in London, England, where she knocked out 2025 Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek from the competition. Sharapova was equally impressed by Eala’s composure and eloquence during her...

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