Alex Eala’s meteoric rise just received another major stamp of approval—and this time, it’s coming from two of the biggest names in Asian tennis.
Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka and Japanese tennis icon Kei Nishikori have thrown their full support behind the 21-year-old Filipina sensation, praising not only her talent but also her potential to become one of the sport’s next global superstars.
The glowing endorsements arrive at a crucial point in Eala’s career as she begins her North American hard-court campaign at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, D.C., where expectations continue to soar after her breakthrough performances this season.
The boldest prediction came from Nishikori, who believes Eala has everything it takes to crash the elite ranks of women’s tennis.
“She can be Top 10 any time if she can stay healthy, play well, and stay mentally tough,” said the former US Open finalist, who is expected to retire after this season.
Nishikori went even further, calling Eala one of Asia’s brightest hopes.
“She has the most potential among many Asian players. I hope Naomi and Eala can both stay up there.”
Those words carry significant weight coming from one of Asia’s greatest tennis pioneers, whose success paved the way for many young players across the continent.
Osaka, meanwhile, was equally impressed—even though she admitted she has yet to know Eala personally.
The four-time Grand Slam champion described the Filipina as an emerging star and someone young fans can proudly look up to.
“I think she’s incredible. I think she’s a star, and it’s really cool to have someone like her that people can look up to,” Osaka said.
She also praised Eala’s maturity and personality, saying she enjoys listening to the Filipina’s interviews because of the inspiring messages she shares.
For Eala, hearing those compliments from two athletes she admired while growing up was a surreal moment.
She said Nishikori and Osaka were among the Asian tennis trailblazers who inspired her own journey.
“I watched Kei a lot when I was younger,” Eala shared. “And Naomi became such a huge inspiration every time she won her Grand Slams. She’s accomplished so much—not only in tennis but also in fashion and now as a mom. Hearing those words from both of them is truly amazing.”
Their public praise is the latest sign that Eala is earning the respect of the sport’s biggest names as she continues her climb in the WTA rankings.
Now, the Filipina ace hopes to turn those encouraging words into another statement performance when she opens her singles campaign against Chinese wildcard Zheng Qinwen on Wednesday (Philippine time).
With legends already predicting a Top 10 future, tennis fans around the world will be watching closely to see if Alex Eala’s next breakthrough is only just beginning.