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'Kahit saan, kahit kailan': Pinoy family backs Alex Eala's Italian Open 2026 journey and beyond
ROME, Italy — Filipinos from different parts of the world showed overwhelming support for Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala during her campaign at the 2026 Italian Open, with members of the Filipino community in Rome making sure they were present at every step of her journey.
Among them was the Piol family, who not only watched all of Eala's matches, but patiently attended her practice sessions on the clay courts as well to cheer for the young Filipina athlete.
Richard Piol, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Batangas who has been living in Rome for 11 years, said he, his wife Virgie, and their son Jesschard made it a point not to miss any opportunity to support Eala throughout the tournament.
Although the family admitted that they were saddened by Eala's valiant stand against world No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during the Round of 32, the Piols said they remain incredibly proud of her performance on the international stage.
"Kahit saan, kahit kailan (anywhere, anytime) we will continue supporting Alex in her future tournaments," Richard said.
Family follows Alex's rise
According to Richard, their family has been following Eala's journey ever since she started competing in international tournaments.
"Since she started playing in international tournaments, we've been following her progress and growth," he shared.
The Piol family has long been passionate about sports, particularly tennis. Richard said that since moving to Italy in 2015, watching tennis tournaments in Rome has become a yearly tradition for their family.
“Watching matches live is more exciting, more thrilling, and the emotions are completely different compared to just watching on television. Seeing the players in person is a different experience," he said.
Richard also revealed that supporting Alex Eala required significant time, effort, and financial sacrifice from their family.
"The tickets for her first match were affordable. The second match was already more expensive but still manageable. But for her final match against the world No. 2 player, it was really difficult to spend that much money—especially for a family of three," he said.
Despite the cost and long hours they devoted to follow Eala's journey in Rome, Richard said every sacrifice was worth it because they were witnessing a historic moment for Filipino tennis.
"All the sacrifices—our time, effort, and money—were worth it because this is the first time in history that we've had the chance to personally support a Filipino tennis player competing at this level," Richard said.
"For many years, we've watched international tournaments and cheered for foreign athletes. This time, it feels different because we finally have a Filipino proudly carrying our flag on the global stage," he said.
Meanwhile, Filipino Olympian pole vaulter EJ Obiena was also spotted at the tournament cheering for Alex Eala, further highlighting the strong support behind the rising Filipina tennis star during her memorable run at the Italian Open.
Pinoy pride
Richard said Eala's run in the Italian Open gave many Filipinos in Rome a strong sense of pride and excitement, prompting some to make sacrifices of their own just to see her play.
"Moments like this don't happen often, so we made sure we were there to witness history," he said.
He added that some Filipinos even adjusted their schedules just to support Eala in person.
"Take note, many Filipinos skipped work or even sneaked out of work just to watch her matches," Richard added.
For Richard, Eala's success has been a milestone for the Philippines, particularly in a sport that has not been popular in the country.
"We Filipinos are hungry to hear and see the Philippines being recognized in tennis because it's not a sport that's widely popular back home. That's why we're very proud to support her as she competes on the international stage," he said.
'We almost cried'
Richard said it was especially meaningful for him to witness a Filipino athlete competing at such a high level after years of following the sport.
"I've been watching tennis for a long time, and it's amazing to finally see a Filipino athlete competing at this level and representing the Philippines as a world-class athlete," he said.
Richard described watching Eala's final match as an emotional experience for their family.
"It was a mix of emotions. We almost cried because we were so excited, but at the same time we were nervous because she was facing the world No. 2 player. But Alex gave her best and fought until the very end," he recalled.
For him, one of the most unforgettable moments of this year's Italian Open was hearing the loud applause from the crowd—not only from Filipinos but from people of different nationalities who recognized Eala's effort and talent.
When asked what message he would like to tell Alex Eala, Richard had this to say:
"Thank you, Alex, for putting the Philippines on the map in such a prestigious sport. Keep fighting, continue making God the center of your games and training, train harder, stay disciplined on the court, avoid injuries, and keep improving. You're already great, but we know you can achieve even more in your future matches."
Also among those who showed their support for Eala during the tournament were officials from the Embassy of the Philippines in Rome, including Ambassador Neal Imperial, Deputy Chief of Mission Donna Feliciano-Gatmaytan, and Consul General Randy Arquiza.
Despite her singles campaign coming to an end, Eala's stint in Rome wasn't over yet as she is scheduled to return to the court for her doubles match, giving Filipino fans another chance to rally behind the young tennis star. — VDV, GMA News
