Icon to icon: Cecil Mamiit on Alex Eala, first meetings, and what makes her tough to play

Alexandra “Alex” Eala has made great strides in her career, especially after her dream run from the Miami Open in 2025.

In that Miami run, the Filipina ace dispatched one Grand Slam champion after another to enter the top 100 — the first Filipina to do so in the Open Era — and now she is playing in the biggest stages and competing against the biggest names in world tennis.

Cecil Mamiit, who will be inducted to the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame in May, is no stranger to the global tennis scene.

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Formerly representing the United States, Mamiit reached an ATP ranking of No. 72 back in 1999, copped silver in the 1999 Pan American Games, and played in the Grand Slams from 1996 until 2004.

Eventually, he played for the Philippines and has bagged medals in the Southeast Asian Games from 2005 to 2011 and copped a bronze medal at the 2006 Asian Games.

The two Philippine tennis icons have yet to have a long interaction, but Mamiit remembers meeting Eala when she was eight years old in a sports clinic.

“The best thing I remember is the relationship she had with her grandfather. I think that was a very cute thing. You knew that there was a lot of support,” Mamiit told GMA News Online, while also praising Eala.

“As a player, it’s amazing that she’s taking on the role. She’s doing a great job overall. Her game, great lefty, [there’s] room to improve. She’s doing well.”

“Just the status of being the female Manny Pacquiao — it’s going to be exciting for everybody. I think that’s a true testament of Philippine tennis.”

From one global Filipino to another, however, Mamiit said Eala’s age and her ability to mount comebacks make Eala a good tennis player.

At just 20 years old, Eala had her own share of ups and downs in her career, and this may be of advantage to the Filipina ace.

“One thing great that she can utilize is her longevity. Think of how long her career is going to be. Hopefully she can manage everything,” Mamiit said, while adding that she has a steady pace in her career growth, which he acknowledge that is adding pressure to Eala, too.

“She has pressure right now. But I think it’s manageable to make her a better player over time.”

“If she can think longevity and get better every time. I believe being with Nadal Academy and all that support, I think she would be fine,” he added, as Mamiit also believes Asian players tend to mature later.

Also, more than the physical aspect of being a lefty, Eala has also been praised for her ability to stay focused on the court.

“Right now, it’s her identity, her fight,” Mamiit said.

“That’s one thing that’s showing well — her ability to stay in there. How many matches has she came back and keep being around and being tough to play. That is the biggest thing right now,” said Mamiit.

While her matches also exposes her shortcomings as well, Mamiit believes this would also allow her to gain lessons heading later in her career.

“If she can find ways to get better — which I know [she will]. Every pro player would be striving to get better and better. It’s always an upside, right?”

Eala is set to compete in the Madrid Open this week.

—JMB, GMA News