Keep growing, achieving for Alex

There’s very little advice that 1993 SEA Games tennis doubles gold medalist and 19-time Federation Cup veteran Francesca LaO can offer to Alex Eala because at only 21, the WTA No. 30 has accomplished more than any Filipino player ever. “I don’t know that I can really give her any advice that she’s not already putting into practice,” said LaO, now 50. “Maybe just continuing to enjoy the process of improving and to keep believing in herself and her work.”

LaO said a cherished possession is Nike’s Alex sampaguita shirt that a friend bought for her. “Like many Filipinos both at home and around the world, I’m a huge Alex fan and follow her results,” continued LaO whose grandfather Rogelio was an assistant coach on the Philippine basketball team that struck gold at the 1958 Asian Games. “Having listened to Alex’ many interviews and watched her matches on TV, I find her to be an excellent ambassador for the Philippines to the rest of the world. She competes hard and carries herself with class and sportsmanship wherever she goes. She is mature, thoughtful, well-spoken and clearly proud to represent the Philippines. The difference between where she is now and other players above her in the rankings is just a bit more experience. It feels like she is incredibly well set-up to keep growing and achieving. I hope she continues to be grateful that she is in a position to make all Filipinos proud. I hope it never feels like too much pressure.”

LaO said a lot of things have changed since she competed internationally. “But from what I can remember, you need to expose yourself to stronger competition as early as you can,” she noted. “I was very lucky to be able to travel and compete internationally around Asia beginning at the age of 13. I think Alex also followed this path and honed her skills at the Nadal Academy. I hope the attention to tennis that Alex is bringing will help PHILTA to better support training for our national teams and juniors from a younger age. It would be great to have a strong local program that promising juniors can get the initial leg up they need. Serious training probably needs to start around 13 or so but really dependent on the kid. Ideally, they’re playing and competing in a lot of sports in addition to tennis and tennis is a year-round activity and not just a summer sport. It’s important that they’re enjoying being kids and not getting burned out too early.”

As a student-athlete, LaO said the challenge was balancing academics and sports. “My parents did not let me travel and play if my grades were not top notch,” she shared. “I worked hard on the court and in school and I had to give up more of my social life. The balance definitely taught me about time management and resilience. I remember when I was in third year high, my mom convinced the principal to let me skip the first quarter of school so that I could travel to Europe for six weeks. There was no internet in school back then. They made a deal that whatever my grades were for the second quarter would be my grades for my first quarter. I had to learn Trigonometry, Chemistry and Geometry on my own for the first half of the year using the school textbooks and notes I borrowed from my classmates. The good news is that I still graduated third in my class at DLS Zobel in 1993.” LaO was one of the country’s top tennis players who paved the way for Alex and her journey will always be an inspiration to athletes of all ages.