US OPEN

September 10, 2022

Alexandra Eala

Press Conference

A. EALA/L. Havlickova

6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Straight sets, a little over an hour. You're thoughts and assessment on how you played today.

ALEXANDRA EALA: I think I played very well and was mentally stable and mentally strong. I'm happy how I was able to keep my composure throughout the match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. We talked all week about what a victory would mean for the Philippines, being the first one. Now that you've actually done it, what kind of feelings or pride do you have? What does this mean for Philippines tennis?

ALEXANDRA EALA: It's very overwhelming right now. But I think this is a huge step for me personally, as well. I'm super happy to represent my country and do something with a big platform, being able to inspire other younger people.

Q. Through your run this week, what did you learn about yourself?

ALEXANDRA EALA: That's a good question.

I would say I'm very happy with the way I handled each and every point. I had a lot of moments in this tournament where I was down, I could have lost, could have lost a set and could have gotten mad easily, but I didn't.

I think my behavior throughout the whole week is something I'm very proud of.

Q. Maybe you have talked about this already, but can I ask you how did you end up practicing in Rafa's academy? Who is your idol?

ALEXANDRA EALA: Well, I think my idol is obviously Rafa. But I'm not just saying that because I'm in his academy (laughter).

No, he's a very good role model, something a lot of people should idolize and try to be.

I won a tournament a couple years ago, maybe three years ago, in France. The academy reached out to my parents. After a while, long discussions, we decided that I would be based there.

Q. You talked about how Rafa is someone that you idolize. What are the aspects about him that you idolize? What do you try to convey to younger people?

ALEXANDRA EALA: The biggest thing I notice in Rafa is how he fights till the end, how his thoughts are so clear. He's so calm, but at the same time so fired up. I think I really tried to channel that energy during this whole week.

That's also what I tried to show, people who look up to me, is to think with a clear head and to not act irrationally.

Q. Could you tell us what you think the rest factor had to do today? She played three times yesterday, you played once. What did you say in your language to your fans?

ALEXANDRA EALA: Yeah, well, it think both of us were quite tired. It's normal with a finals match. We're not going to be super fresh. I think she did hold out really well, especially in the second set.

Just in the speech I just said that I thanked my family and everyone who prayed and everyone who supported, and of course my sponsors.

I also said that I fought with my heart for this trophy. I said that it's not just my win, it's all of our wins. I said that, yeah, I did this not just for myself, I did it so I could help Philippine tennis.

Q. When you got the break, up 5-4, knowing you're serving for the championship, how do you keep yourself in that moment rather than thinking ahead?

ALEXANDRA EALA: Well, I think that's one of the things that I need to develop and learn because that's part of mental strength. Not allowing yourself to think winning, not allowing yourself to think that you can win.

I just tried to focus on every single point, visualize what I was going to do. Today I was able to execute that well.

Q. Now that you have this trophy and this big win, when you look back and think about what the biggest obstacles were for you to overcome, what were those, what were the keys for you to overcome them?

ALEXANDRA EALA: I would say the biggest obstacles is probably being away from my family, and many other things a lot of other tennis players also go through.

But the key was to be surrounded by good people and people that I look up to, guide me the right way.

Q. How do you plan to celebrate?

ALEXANDRA EALA: Maybe a good dinner. But I'm just trying to take it all in right now, take a breath and just share it with my family, yeah.

Q. What's next for you? Often when a girl wins her first junior slam title, she's ready to move on. You've played mostly pro tennis. Do you see this as the end of your junior career?

ALEXANDRA EALA: I wouldn't say that yet. I'm definitely not really sure. As you can tell, a tennis schedule should be very flexible.

For the next couple months, probably I will be focusing more on professional. This is my first junior of the year, so I'm happy with how I performed with that.

But definitely going to focus on my professional career, yeah.

Q. With tonight's final, obviously Ons and Iga trying to do something that nobody from their country has ever done, you're younger but in a similar situation. Do you take inspiration from seeing how many more trails are still being blazed in this sport, your role in that?

ALEXANDRA EALA: Of course. I think all the tennis players have their own story, and they've gone through their own hardships. To see people like Iga and like Ons making their own path and inspiring so many young people is definitely something I want to do, as well.

Q. Speaking of being inspired by someone, you said Rafa is your idol, last year in a final here, Emma Raducanu and Fernandez played the final. Both of them have Asian roots. Are you inspired by these two players?

ALEXANDRA EALA: Definitely. I think the final last year was very groundbreaking, something very special. They're both young and both from diverse backgrounds. Definitely hit a lot of people.

Yeah, to do something so young and be so humble at the same time is very good, yeah. Very good to me, yeah.

Q. You referenced your family. Could you talk about their support.

ALEXANDRA EALA: Well, all of them are pretty involved from everything down to like what I wear, my schedule, yeah. Like I ask them for their opinion on almost everything. So I would say they're pretty involved from the big things to the small things. I rely on them a lot, yeah.