‘Whatever Alex has achieved, whatever feat she stands to make—they are all hers, the outcome of her hard work and hers alone, and that of the few people close to her. This is plain and simple individual achievement.’
REGARDLESS of what happens at Wimbledon, this year’s tennis sensation Alex Eala has already made history.
Without a doubt, she stands to make another, and another, and another, and another. Because tennis history is made one serve at a time, one volley at a time, one game at a time, one match at a time, one win at a time, one title at a time.
Patience. Nerves of steel. A big heart wins or lose. An abundant positive attitude. Grace and grace under pressure. Most of all, humility. These are what will carry Alex to her place in the world of tennis.
But make no mistake about it. Whatever Alex has achieved, whatever feat she stands to make—they are all hers, the outcome of her hard work and hers alone, and that of the few people close to her. This is plain and simple individual achievement.
Let us recall that Alex missed a golden opportunity to compete in the Paris Olympics last year because of the bad politics that have hounded Philippine sports since the time I can remember.
Alex failed to qualify because of the political intramurals in the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta). She missed taking part in the Billie Jean King Cup—one of the Olympic prerequisites—because Philta was suspended by the International Tennis Federation due to the leadership row.
Now, the Philippine flag flies proudly because we have an Alex Eala who not only dreamed but dreamed big amid domestic obstacles.
And while she is generous enough to share the glory with her country and her countrymen, the glory is hers and hers alone. Let no one—especially the politicians and the pretentious “leaders” of Philippine sports who have served more as stumbling blocks than stepping stones to the development of our athletes—share in that glory.
For a long time now, that has almost always been the case with our athletes who made a name in the international arena. In the vernacular, “maraming nakikisawsaw sa tagumpay.”
In Alex’s case, if there is any local institution who deserves to share in her glory, that would be Globe Telecoms and Bank of the Philippine Islands—two companies of the business clan whose name sounds like Eala. Globe had supported Alex since she was eight years old, and BPI joined when she turned 17.
But there’s a family story to that.
Even so, neither Glove nor BPI has embarked on massive propaganda to share in the glory, much less to claim even part of the credit. And that speaks well for the two institutions.
As for everyone else, let us all just be happy for her, root for her, and pray for her. And congratulate her at every turn.
