Alex Eala on Pacquiao comparison: 'I'm still very far'

Filipino sports heroes have always served as a source of joy and pride for fans.

With Manny Pacquiao fading away from the boxing scene after giving the country much honor in the past decades, tennis princess Alex Eala has caught the love and attention of this appreciative nation.

And for the 21-year-old Eala, being compared with the world’s only eight-division boxing champion is such a humbling distinction.

“It never really crossed my mind when I was watching his fights back home that one day I would be compared to him. I think the feeling that Pacquiao gave the Filipinos was great,” said Eala during the pre-tournament press conference for this year’s Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio.

“To have someone to rally over, when he would have fights, everyone was so excited. It was just a chance for people to come together. I guess my journey has similar things or can give similar things like that,” she added.

Eala, who rose to a career-best No. 20 in the WTA rankings after a string of triumphs, also acknowledged the differences between their journeys, while emphasizing that both are beautiful in their own way and capable of inspiring others.

“It's very flattering to be compared to him, but at the same time, I think they are also two unique journeys,” Eala continued.

“They're two very different journeys. I don't think one takes away from the other. I think I'm still very, very far from the levels of Pacquiao. But I think they both have their own beautiful set of characteristics,” she added.

From her previous campaigns, the popularity of the Filipina tennis ace grew dramatically compared to last year as Eala continued to draw large crowds.

Following a brief respite, the charming lefty, seeded 17th, tests her mettle against the world’s finest at the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open. She begins her quest for another Tour crown against Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania in Round of 64.

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