Daijiworld Media Network – Paris
Paris, May 20: Alexandra Eala of the Philippines and Indonesia’s Janice Tjen may have taken different paths to the top level of women’s tennis, but both are now emerging as symbols of Southeast Asia’s growing presence in the sport.
Eala, who turns 21 just before the start of the French Open, became the first Filipino player to break into the WTA top 50 earlier this year. Tjen, who turned 24 in May, entered the top 40 in February and became the highest-ranked Indonesian woman since Yayuk Basuki, who reached the top 20 in the late 1990s.
The two players, whose countries share maritime borders despite being over 1,500 kilometres apart, have earned the nickname “SEASters” due to their growing influence both on and off the court.
Eala’s rise has sparked massive support from the Filipino community worldwide, with fans regularly turning up in large numbers during her matches.
“The start of the season is when I seriously noticed that people were really coming, buying tickets and taking time out of their day,” Eala said in an interview with Served.
The world No. 38 admitted she initially struggled to accept her growing popularity but later embraced the support from fans.
Her popularity has also caught the attention of fellow players. American Amanda Anisimova described the atmosphere around Eala’s matches as “amazing” during a tournament in Dubai.
Despite the attention, Eala said she is trying to maintain balance and focus on her career.
“I want to give back all the support they give me, but my first obligation is to myself,” she told Punto de Break.
Tjen, who represents a nation of 288 million people, has also attracted strong support from Indonesian fans.
“As long as I keep working hard and giving my best, I always have Indonesia behind me. That’s something I’m proud of,” she said during the Billie Jean King Cup in Delhi earlier this year.
The rise of Eala and Tjen comes alongside growing success for other Southeast Asian players, including Thailand’s Lanlana Tararudee and Mananchaya Sawangkaew, who are both hovering around the top 100 rankings.
Eala said the new generation of Southeast Asian players shares a unique bond and pride in representing the region.
“I’m super proud to be part of this group. Southeast Asia has its own charm and shared cultural similarities,” she said.
Eala moved to Spain at the age of 12 to train at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca and won the US Open junior singles title in 2022. Last year, she also became the first player to practise with Nadal after his retirement.
Meanwhile, Tjen developed her game through tennis scholarships in the United States, studying at the University of Oregon and Pepperdine University in Malibu.
She admitted that the demands of professional tennis once made her consider quitting the sport.
“Tennis demands a lot of you. You travel every week and spend long periods away from home,” Tjen said.
However, encouragement from people around her convinced her to continue pursuing the sport professionally.