Alex Eala shares lessons from her grandfather, love for reading, and more with Vanity Fair

Alex Eala opened up about her life on and off the tennis court and talked about her grandfather, Filipino fans, her favorite pastimes, and the people who have inspired her with Vanity Fair.

While bouncing a tennis ball on a racket, Alex shared that forgiveness was one of the most important lessons she learned from her grandfather, who was her first coach.

“He taught me discipline. He taught me to be coachable,” she added.

Alex also shared what she loves most about her Filipino fandom: their passion and sense of community, noting that they always show up for her.

As she becomes more recognizable, Alex said she has also been getting approached more often in public. She recalled one of the first times it happened last year while she was out with one of her cousins, when a sizable number of people recognized her and asked for photos.

“They just ask for pictures and they have this space where it's like they kind of know who you are, but not really,” she said.

She added that people sometimes mistake her for other tennis players and other Filipinos, which she considers an amazing compliment.

When asked about her favorite court to play on, Alex named Wimbledon Center Court. She said she grew up watching matches there and appreciates the history and "aura" surrounding the iconic venue.

Alex also shared some of her pre-match habits. She likes taking her time doing her hair and making sure it stays out of her face. While she does not have a lucky color, she said she loves pink.

“I avoid treating people badly. I feel like karma's going to get you back,” she also shared.

Away from tennis, Alex enjoys visiting coffee shops and trying different ones around the world. She also likes reading and revealed that she is currently reading Emily Brontë's “Wuthering Heights.”

When asked if she cooks, Alex jokingly said she tries. Her specialties include scrambled eggs and rice.

Alex also talked about Rafael Nadal, whom she idolized growing up and now regularly trains with.

One thing that surprised her about Nadal was seeing how gentle he is with his son.

“t's so different seeing him as an athlete and the great athlete that he is, but not a lot of people get to see him as a father, and I feel like that's a very different dimension. So it was surprising to see that,” she said.

She also said that she is excited to see Venus and Serena Williams, praising their impact on tennis, women's tennis, and women in general.

Finally, when asked what advice she would give her childhood self, Alex kept it simple: "Don't change a thing."

Alex is set to hold the event “Alex Eala Live: Game. Set. Celebrate” on December 8 at the Philippine Arena.

She will face fellow Southeast Asian tennis star Janice Tjen of Indonesia at the exhibition.

In a recent Forbes report, Alex was projected to become one of the highest-paid female athletes in the world in the coming years.

Reflecting on her progress, she said she has experienced “so much growth” over the past year while learning from and competing against some of the sport’s best players. —Carby Rose Basina/JCB, GMA News