A major feat for the rising international tennis star.
On Wednesday, May 27, global publication Forbes revealed the personalities from around the region who have made the cut to their prestigious annual 30 Under 30 list.
Under the Entertainment and Sports category, they included Filipina tennis star Alex Eala, who has repeatedly broken records in the sport as the highest-placed woman from the Philippines in history, ranking as high as 29th place globally.
Forbes called her “unstoppable” and became the reason for the Filipinos to be “fired up” about tennis.”
They also took note of the other firsts she created, such as becoming the first Filipina to beat two Top 10 players at the Miami Open un March 2025; the first Filipina to reach a WTA tour final at the Eastbourne International in June 2025; and the first to win a Grand Slam singles main‑draw match at the U.S. Open in August.
They also mentioned her championship at the Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand in December 2025, when she took home the country’s first gold medal since 1999.
In her interview with Forbes, Eala said that she has been receiving an “incredible” amount of support. “Tennis can sometimes feel quiet and serious, so having that energy makes it special,” she said.
Forbes also said that Eala is now the highest-earning Filipino tennis player ever, as she reached a prize money of US$876,000, on top of her endorsement deals with various companies that added US$1 million.
Meanwhile, joining Eala on the 30 Under 30 Asia list are other Filipinos in the list are singer-songwriter Zack Tabudlo — who is also part of the Entertainment and Sports category — as well as Saje Miguel Molato, Steph Naval and Emmanuel Mirus Ponon in the Social Impact category; Pauline Dizon, Adrian Jumangit, Kiyanusch Braun, Martin Joaquin Palaña, and Kharl Christian Yeung in the Retail and E-commerce category; and Brandon Angelo Wong and Raphael Sevilla in Consumer & Enterprise.
Eala had just made her exit from the French Open and is now eyeing her participation in the upcoming Lexus Birmingham Open in England starting Monday, June 1.