Game of Luck
Alex Eala’s success inspires a new generation of Filipino tennis players, yet limited resources continue to keep many young talents from pursuing the same dream.
For a country that celebrates every Filipino who makes history on the world stage, we have a strange habit of remembering athletes only after they have already made it.
Tennis is no exception.
According to the Philippine Tennis Association, the Philippines has fewer than 1,000 tennis courts. National sensation Alex Eala herself remembers that there was a time when the courts she played on were often empty. Now, as the sport gains popularity, parents tell her they can barely find a court for their children. This is a testament to the country’s neglect of the potential of its young athletes.
For young Filipinos who dream of becoming athletes, talent alone is often not enough. They need courts, equipment, coaching, tournaments, training, and, most importantly, someone willing to invest in their potential. It is ironic how the Philippines constantly strives to keep pace with other nations, yet puts so little effort into nurturing the people who could help it get there.
The recent rise of Alex Eala has shown what Filipino tennis can achieve when talent is given the opportunity to grow. Her historic accomplishments have brought growing attention to the sport, inspiring more Filipinos to pick up a racket. Yet her success also raises an uncomfortable question: How many potential Alex Ealas never got the chance to begin?
It is not that Filipinos lack talent; it is that their talents remain trapped in a never-ending rally between ambition and a lack of support.
Tennis is expensive. Court fees, rackets, shoes, coaching, tournament expenses, and travel can quickly become barriers for young athletes, particularly those from families who cannot afford them. Even access to a proper court can be difficult, and Eala herself has spoken about the issue.
To be fair, change is beginning. The government and the Philippine Tennis Association have partnered to establish a 10-hectare Philippine Tennis Center in New Clark City, intended to provide international-standard facilities and strengthen grassroots and youth development. Another major tennis center is also being developed in Vermosa, Cavite, with competition courts, training facilities, and accommodations for young athletes.
These projects deserve recognition. But one or two world-class facilities cannot solve a problem that exists across an entire country.
If tennis is to become more than a sport accessible mainly to those who can afford it, investment must reach beyond elite training centers. Schools need usable courts and equipment. Local governments need to maintain public facilities. Young athletes outside Metro Manila need opportunities to compete without carrying the burden of expensive travel. Coaches and grassroots programs need sustained support—not attention that appears only when a Filipino wins a major tournament.
Most importantly, support should not begin after an athlete becomes a champion.
It should begin when they are still a child hitting their first ball across a cracked court.
Filipino athletes have repeatedly shown that they can compete with the world. But potential cannot grow on applause alone. A country cannot demand champions while leaving aspiring athletes to build their dreams without the tools to reach them.
Alex Eala may have opened the door for Philippine tennis. Now, it is up to the country to keep that door open.
Because somewhere in the Philippines, another young Filipino is holding a racket, looking at a broken court, and dreaming of becoming the next champion. That young Filipino should not have to be lucky enough to afford that dream.
