Filipino tennis star Alex Eala continues to make an impression beyond the court.
The 21-year-old tennis sensation recently caught the attention of fashion icon Anna Wintour, who praised Alex's growing interest in fashion while discussing the connection between sports and style during the 2026 U.S. Open in New York City.
Anna attended the exhibition match between tennis legends Roger Federer and Andy Roddick on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
The following day, August 26, the U.S. Open shared an interview with the longtime Vogue editor-in-chief on its official Instagram page, where she spoke about how athletes have increasingly embraced fashion as a form of self-expression.
"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," Anna said.
She then singled out Alex, highlighting the Filipina athlete's passion for style at a young age.
"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," Anna shared.
"I think it's great, it's wonderful how sports and fashion have become this wonderful sort of marriage," she concluded.
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Vogue has also shared snippets of Anna's appearance at the U.S. Open-related event and featured Alex in one of its posts, referring to her as one of the publication's "friends of Vogue."
Alex appeared alongside notable personalities from the sports and media worlds, including tennis legends Serena Williams and Eva Lys, journalist Gayle King, and WNBA star Jonquel Jones.
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ALEX EALA'S PASSION FOR FASHION
Alex has spoken openly about loving to dress up and feeling more confident when she looks good, both on and off the court.
In a Town & Country interview, she said: “I love dressing up.
"I love looking good on court, feeling myself, and I am so happy for tennis that we're breaking into another industry."
She follows a “look good, feel good” approach and has said she enjoys accessorizing—often wearing earrings, necklaces, and bracelets even during matches.
In a WTA interview, she noted: "I love to accessorize… earrings, necklaces, bracelets—you know I’ll try to wear those on court."
A distinctive part of Alex's love for fashion is her effort to incorporate Filipino culture into her style.
She has worn Nike pieces featuring sampaguita motifs, including custom hair ties and shirts that pay tribute to her heritage.
One of her standout fashion moments came at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards, where she wore a modern Filipiniana designed by her uncle, renowned Filipino designer Rhett Eala.
Alex previously said wearing a Filipiniana on a major red carpet was a dream come true and made her feel "like a princess."
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