MANILA: Filipino tennis star Alex Eala has been making waves even in the fashion world, catching the attention of none other than fashion icon Anna Wintour herself.
Eala, who is competing at the 2026 US Open in New York City, received praises from Wintour, who attended and watched the exhibition match of Roger Federer and Andy Roddick on Tuesday (Aug 25).
“It’s really interesting, especially when you look at players like Serena [Williams] and Naomi [Osaka] who really embrace fashion and express themselves with it,” the fashion icon said in an interview, as seen in a clip shared on the tournament’s official social media pages.
Referring to Eala whose photo flashed in the interview video, Wintour continued, “We had the young Filipino star —you could see even in such a young star, how interested she is in fashion and how she wants to learn about it and follow it.”
“I think it’s great, it’s wonderful how sports and fashion have become this wonderful sort of marriage,” she concluded.
Wintour and Eala met during the tennis event, with the two shaking each other’s hands, as seen in a video shared by Facebook user Rulee Occiano.
Just days prior to this, ahead of her US Open campaign, 21-year-old Eala climbed to a career-high World No. 18 in the latest WTA rankings.
Wintour’s eye for fashion may not be off the mark as the decorated Filipina athlete has been turning heads with her fashion-forward choices that are effortlessly chic and feminine at the same time. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
