MANILA -- If there's one thing that defines Filipino tennis star Alex Eala, it's her unwavering dedication to her sport -- which paid off in spades in the Miami Open.
Last year, while most were celebrating during the holidays, Eala was still deep in training. A day before Christmas, she was pushing herself on the court under the guidance of Rafa Nadal Academy (RNA) coach Sandro Viaene.
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She spent two intense weeks fine-tuning her game before heading to Australia to start her 2025 campaign.
One of the most demanding drills she tackled involved running from left to right, chasing balls in a test of speed, endurance, and precision.
Meanwhile, RNA Strength and Conditioning coach Lluc Bauza oversaw her fitness regimen, incorporating explosive exercises and running drills to improve her mobility and overall strength.
Eala's commitment hasn't gone unnoticed by her coaches. Viaene, who has worked closely with her, believes she has a unique quality that sets her apart from other players.
"Since I met Alex, I have the feeling that she can beat everyone. So she has something special that before the match, you feel that she can win," he shared. "Maybe it's the competitiveness."
Eala has been training two to three times a day during the off-season and traveling week after week for years.
She has endured the highs and lows of the professional circuit, constantly working on the many aspects required to succeed at the highest level.
Viaene also noted the significant progress Eala has made. "She's improving a lot. I think she improved a lot during the last year. So I think she's more ready than the year before."
For Eala, all this work has translated into a new level of confidence.
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"I feel more calm and more confident in the things that I've been doing," she said in an interview in December. "I think the past few years, I was really thinking about it a lot because I had won a match in a Grand Slam. So now that I have a couple of matches in my pocket, the pressure is a bit more manageable."
Her biggest focus now is maintaining strength and stamina throughout tournaments.
"Of course, being able to endure or perform with the same fitness and power throughout every single match—that's the goal," she added. "And I think every year, we're working on that to make it better."