Alex Eala received her Asian Games bronze medal in Nagoya on Friday and admitted she gets "overwhelmed sometimes" by the weight of expectation as a trailblazer for Philippine tennis, AFP via Inquirer reports.
"I definitely do get overwhelmed sometimes. But I understand that it's such a privilege to be in the position that I'm in and to be able to live out the dreams that I've always had as a kid," Eala said. "So it's something I've had to accept that it comes with the job, and this is how things are. I'm ready for the challenge."
Gold at the Games carried direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Eala, the top seed and world No. 18, fell to China's Wang Xiyu 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in Thursday's semifinal — but said playing in LA is still her dream.
"There are other ways of qualifying for the Olympics, so I guess it's also an extra motivation," she said. "Competing in the Olympics is definitely a dream of mine. So, if anything, I leave here more motivated."
Wang went on to beat compatriot Zhang Shuai for gold on Friday. Eala and Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva took bronze — Eala's second straight Asiad bronze, per Philstar.
"To be able to share it with the Filipino people is really important," Eala said. "No regrets. I left everything on the court."
She skipped the China Open in Beijing to play in Nagoya, and now returns to the WTA Tour.
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