Alexandra “Alex” Eala is making waves at the Miami Open. The 19-year-old pulled off a massive upset in the second round, taking down World No. 25 and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets, 7-6(2), 7-5. It was a historic win—her first against a top-30 opponent—and it punched her ticket to the Round of 32. The Filipino sensation is proving she belongs on the big stage. But who’s the coach guiding her through this breakthrough moment?
Eala turned pro in March 2020, and since then, she has stacked up five ITF singles titles and three doubles titles. Her steady rise reached a milestone on January 27, 2025, when she climbed to a career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 134—the highest ever for a Filipina.
Since 2018, she has trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, a top-tier facility founded by Rafael Nadal himself. The experience has been life-changing. “It just brought a whole different level to my game,” Eala once said. “I don’t know where I would be without going there. It was such a huge turning point in my life, and I’m just super grateful.”
For the 2025 season, Eala made an important coaching switch. She began pre-season training with Alexandro “Sandro” Viaene, another coach from the Rafa Nadal Academy. Viaene pushed her through an intense training block. “The pre-season of Alex was very good. We were practicing for two weeks, with double tennis sessions and double fitness sessions—double fitness sessions and double tennis sessions—so the days were long, but we were very productive, and we are very happy,” he told ABS-CBN News. Before Viaene, she worked with Daniel Gomez, also from the Academy. Gomez had high praise for her work ethic. “The biggest difference between Asians and Europeans is discipline. They (Asians) are all ready to listen. They are hungry to learn from every coach,” he once said. That hunger for improvement is what keeps Eala climbing the ranks.
Of course, Rafael Nadal himself has played a role in shaping her game. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has been a huge influence on her career.
Alexandra Eala reveals the impact Rafael Nadal had on her
The Rafa Nadal Academy is more than just a training center. It’s a powerhouse for young talent, led by Toni Nadal, Rafa’s uncle and longtime coach. The Spanish legend is deeply involved, often hitting the court with academy players and offering his wisdom.
For the Filipono tennis player, learning from Nadal is a dream come true. She’s a self-proclaimed “fangirl” of the ‘King of Clay.’ “He’s someone with so much knowledge and so much experience on the tour so I’ve learned a lot from him,” she told Olympics.com. She admires his mindset just as much as his skill. “His focus and his mental composure,” she said, are what make him stand out.
Nadal’s humility is another trait she deeply respects. “He is so grounded and he has achieved more than anything I could dream of,” she told GMA. “And the fact that he is still so nice to everyone around here is very admirable from him.”
Even Nadal himself took notice of her Miami Open heroics. After she stunned Ostapenko, he gave her a shoutout on X. “Congratulations Alex! What a great win for you and for [the Philippines],” he wrote. That’s high praise from one of the sport’s greatest players.
But Alexandria Eala’s journey in Miami isn’t over yet. She now faces World No. 5 Madison Keys, the reigning Australian Open champion, in the next round. It’s a daunting task but can she pull off another upset and keep her Miami magic alive?
The post Who Is Alexandra Eala’s Coach? Everything You Need To Know About the WTA Icon’s Mentor appeared first on EssentiallySports.