Filipina tennis star Alex Eala is showing that greatness doesn't just happen on the court, it happens at the red carpet, the sidelines and now — the fan pages of fashion's biggest. Blessing the 21-year-old rising star's fashion sense in the moment that's captivating Filipino sports and fashion fans, Vogue's Anna Wintour publicly praised Alex Eala Fashion during the 2026 US Open, putting the rookie in the same style conversation as tennis icon Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka.
It was an important time in Eala's career. She hit a career-best World No. 18 in the WTA rankings just days before the comments — an indication of how her on-court form and her burgeoning fashion influence are keeping pace. This article dissects what Wintour said, why it's significant and how Alex Eala is increasingly becoming one of the most exciting crossover fashion celebrities in Philippine sport.
Anna Wintour, global editorial director of Vogue, and a long-time doyenne of fashion, observed during an interview at the US Open exhibition match, which pitted Roger Federer and Andy Roddick against one another, in New York on August 25, 2026. Wintour was at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the ceremonial coin toss and Eala was there among the crowd, including fellow tennis player Eva Lys.
The US Open's official social media accounts shared a video in which Wintour shared her thoughts on the growing trend of the world's best athletes using fashion to express themselves:
"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."
Then she turned her attention straight to Eala:
"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. And I think it's great — it's wonderful how sports and fashion have become this wonderful sort of marriage."
Eala was also included in an Instagram Reel shared by Vogue, which was captured at the same event in Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Roger Federer made his return to the US Open. The host of the event referred to the guests, including Eala, as "friends of Vogue," a significant credit from one of the biggest gate keepers in the fashion world.
During the exhibition match, Alex Eala sported a short cropped leather jacket in a mustard-yellow design with a pointed collar, button front and a cinched waist, complemented by loose-fitting blue jeans. The ensemble hit on her idea of "tact" which is one of the main elements of her own style - a mix of chic and friendly with a little bit of edge.
"I think I would describe my on-court style as quite girly, I think. But also in a confident way, a little edgy. So I'm still trying to figure it out," Eala said during a BPI press conference in Manila this past July.
Eala's fashion journey didn't start at the US Open. Over the last year, she has made a name for herself with well-considered, culturally appropriate fashion statements like:
The sampaguita-inspired look (2025): Eala shared how one piece inspired by the Philippines' national flower garnered overwhelming response. "When I wore the sampaguita last year, oh my gosh, everybody wanted one. I felt super beautiful. I felt confident on court, and I was ready to play," she said.
The Filipiniana terno at the L'Oréal Sports Awards: "When I wore the Filipiniana, my mighty terno, I felt so beautiful. Eala said that she felt like a princess.
Filipiniana by the hands of a modern designer, Rhett Eala of Spain, at the Laureus World Sports Awards, Madrid: It is fitting that Alex is the niece of the renowned Filipino fashion designer, Rhett Eala of Spain. He told him that Alex had something in mind: something Filipino, crafted in piña fabric, a top that she could take off when it got time for dancing in the night.
It's a fashion identity built on intention. "I've started incorporating Filipino touches in my fashion, and I love that," Eala explained. "I think, on one hand, it is a way for me to pay tribute to my culture, and it's a slight nod to where I come from. On the other hand, it's also just because I genuinely think it's really beautiful."
Anna Wintour doesn't give people compliments easily. The Met Gala co-chair and one of the most influential personalities in the world of fashion is getting her seal of approval, and that's no mere fashion moment, it's an early sign of crossover potential. In fact, two athletes that Wintour had compared Eala with, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, have since founded fashion lines, magazine covers and long-term relationships with style brands.
This is a proud moment for two reasons to Filipino sports fans:
On-court validation: Eala's progress to World No. 18 demonstrates a sharp improvement in her tennis career.
Off-court recognition: Vogue's tag of "friend of Vogue" and comparisons with two of the most fashion-forward athletes in modern sports history put Eala in rare company.
As Eala herself put it: "As I'm growing older and as I have more events to go to, it's something that I've definitely been tapping into. I'm finding my style."
Anna Wintour's partnership with Alex Eala US Open is not just a viral moment — it's a testament to the evolution of her influence as an athlete and as a cultural icon representing the Philippines on the international stage. Whether she's serving aces or serving looks, Eala continues to show that authenticity and pride in one's roots can go hand in hand with world-class ambition.
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Alex Eala (Alexandra Eala) is a Filipina professional tennis player who has climbed to a career-high World No. 18 in the WTA rankings as of August 2026. She has represented the Philippines on the international tennis stage and has become known both for her competitive results and her distinctive personal style.
During the 2026 US Open exhibition match between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick, Vogue's Anna Wintour praised Eala's genuine interest in fashion, comparing her to tennis stars Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka for how she uses style as self-expression.
The comments were made in an interview at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York during a US Open exhibition event, where Wintour also performed the ceremonial coin toss.
Eala wore a cropped mustard-yellow leather jacket with a pointed collar and button-front closure, paired with relaxed blue jeans.
Yes. Eala has worn sampaguita-inspired pieces, a Filipiniana terno at the L'Oréal Sports Awards, and a modern Filipiniana by designer Rhett Eala — her uncle — at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid.
