Past and present: Cecil Mamiit hails Alex Eala’s ascent

MANILA, Philippines – Before Alex Eala emerged as the brightest star in Philippine tennis, there was Cecil Mamiit, a trailblazer who helped put the country on the global tennis map.

Now enshrined in the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame, Mamiit believes Eala’s rise to the world top 30 should inspire a new generation of Filipino players to dream bigger and aim higher.

“She will be doing great things. There are still a lot of years ahead of her. She is still learning a lot, and she has been a great ambassador for the Philippines in tennis,” Mamiit said during the induction ceremony for the 5th Philippine Sports Hall of Fame inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on June 20.

“Alex will be paving the way for more Filipinos in the sport, for women’s tennis, and for women in sports. She sets the bar.”

Mamiit, who first met Eala when she was just 9 years old, was carrying the Philippine flag on some of tennis’ biggest stages during his heyday.

The former Davis Cup standout competed in all four Grand Slam tournaments and reached a career-high ATP ranking of No. 72 during his peak in the late 1990s and 2000s.

He also enjoyed a decorated international career, winning six gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games and two bronze medals in the Asian Games while representing the Philippines. Before turning professional, Mamiit captured the NCAA singles championship while playing for the University of Southern California.

In 2011, Mamiit served as a hitting partner for tennis superstar Maria Sharapova, a stint that preceded the Russian’s triumphant run to the 2012 French Open title.

Today, Philippine tennis appears to be entering a new era.

The country hosted its first-ever WTA 125 tournament, the Philippine Women’s Open, earlier this year, as a growing crop of young talents has emerged. 

Prospects like Tenny Madis, Steffi Aludo, Kaye Emana, Shaira Rivera, and Alexa Milliam are making strides locally, while Eala continues to elevate Philippine tennis on the international stage.

Having experienced firsthand what it takes to compete among the world’s elite, Mamiit believes Eala’s continued ascent will depend on her ability to manage the physical and mental demands of professional tennis.

“I think it’s just a matter of how much she can manage her body, her mental and physical,” he said.

Now a coach with the Tennis Mechanix Academy in Southern California, Mamiit emphasized that sustained support will be crucial to Eala’s long-term success.

“It’s all about continuation and the support. If she is around, a lot of Filipinos will be behind her. I think the world globally is catching on and I think it’s inspiring nations as well that someone can be that supported,” he said.

The Filipina sensation is coming off a breakthrough campaign at the Berlin Open, where she stunned world No. 2 Elena Rybakina and world No. 8 Elina Svitolina before falling to Linda Noskova in the semifinals.

She then competed in the Bad Homburg Open in Germany, where she teamed up with tennis legend Venus Williams.

Eala is also set to compete in Wimbledon as a seeded player for the first time in her career, earning a first-round bye in the singles draw. 

For Mamiit, Eala’s ascension to the world top 20 is no longer a question of if, but when.

“​​With this enrichment and Alex, it will [come down] to timing. Tennis is timing. So, we’re hoping for the best for everybody,” he said. – Rappler.com