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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Grand Slam champion Li Na praises Alex Eala's potential

Grand Slam champion Li Na praises Alex Eala's potential

Published Dec 29, 2025 01:01 pm

At A Glance

  • In an interview with Tennis Asia TV, the 43-year-old two-time Grand Slam champion shared her thoughts on the rising star, who was part of her squad at the MGM Macau Tennis Masters exhibition event.
Alex Eala, third from left, with Li Na, right, during the MGM Macau Tennis Masters. (MGM Macau Tennis Masters Instagram)
Alex Eala, third from left, with Li Na, right, during the MGM Macau Tennis Masters. (MGM Macau Tennis Masters Instagram)
Chinese tennis great Li Na has high hopes for Alex Eala as the Filipina continues her blossoming career on the Women’s Tennis Association tour.
In an interview with Tennis Asia TV, the 43-year-old two-time Grand Slam champion shared her thoughts on the rising star, who was part of her squad at the MGM Macau Tennis Masters exhibition event.
“I really love her personality. She’s played well, she’s so young, and she’s already gained a lot of experience. I believe she can do much, much better,” Li said.
Li, who reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 2 before retiring in 2014, also recalled her first time competing at the Australian Open -- where Eala is expected to make her main draw debut in the said Grand Slam next month.
“I remember the first time I was playing the third round against Maria (Sharapova) in the Rod Laver Arena. I was so nervous. I couldn’t even walk on the court,” she said.
“Even after finishing the match, back to the locker room, I was like, oh match is finished,” she added.
Team Li Na, which was also composed of Ugo Humbert and Jerry Shang, fell to Team Conchita Martinez that had world No. 9 Mirra Andreeva, Wu Yibing and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Eala and Shang first teamed up and lost to the male pair of Fokina and Wu, 7-5, 7-6 (1), on Saturday, Dec. 7, before the Filipina yielded to Andreeva, 6-4, 6-2, in the singles on Sunday, Dec. 28.
Currently ranked No. 53, Eala is scheduled for a busy first two months by seeing action in the WTA 250 Auckland ASB Classic on Jan. 5, the Australian Open on Jan. 19, and hopefully, the WTA 125 Philippine Open where the country is hosting for the first time on Jan. 26.
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