Alex Eala carries late grandfather's values in rise to tennis stardom

Alex Eala's journey to the top of global tennis is not one she has made alone.

Behind the Filipino tennis star’s historic rise is a strong foundation built by her family, including her late grandfather, Roberto "Bobby" Maniego, whose lessons on discipline and perseverance continue to shape Eala until today.

In an interview with CBS Mornings in the United States, the 21-year-old Philippine pride opened up about how the values her “Lolo Bob' instilled in her during the early days of her tennis career continue to be her guiding light.

"I think he just instilled so many values in me through practice and my training for tennis has always been quite intense." Eala said.

"Him and my family have laid out a great foundation for me to be able to withstand the pressures that come with being an athlete at this level and the discipline that it takes."

That foundation has kept Eala grounded as she navigates the demands of competitive tennis.

Eala was coming off a third-round exit at the US Open, where she swept Mary Stoiana and Oleksandra Oliynykova before bowing to friend Iva Jovic in three grueling sets.

Even in defeat, Eala remained gracious.

Eala is now headed to a pair of big tournaments this month at the Singapore Open and the Asian Games, where she will be eyeing not only for a gold medal but also an Olympics berth.

—Reuters