Alex Eala responds with grace to remark about looking ‘very tired’ at Hong Kong Open

Alex Eala responded with wit and composure after a reporter remarked that she appeared “tired” during her match against world No. 85 Tereza Valentová at the 2026 Hong Kong Tennis Open. 

The Filipina tennis star secured a 6-4, 7-6 (7) victory over the Czech player at Victoria Park, earning a spot in the tournament’s quarterfinals. 

Following the match, Alex faced the press on November 5, where she was asked about her physical condition during the game. 

“You seem to be very tired during the game. Is that just our impression?” a reporter asked. 

Alex smiled before turning the question back to the reporter, saying: “Is that your impression? You tell me, is that your impression?” 

When the reporter confirmed that it was his impression, Alex responded: “Mukha rin po kayong pagod eh. Are you tired?” 

The reporter answered yes, prompting Alex to offer a lighthearted suggestion. 

“Aw, you should rest. You should have some rest,” she said. 

Alex then explained why she sees exhaustion as part of the experience of competing at a high level, maintaining that being tired can also be a “blessing.” 

“I think being tired, like I said in my last interview… is a blessing. Of course, when you face opponents like Tereza and opponents who are just as motivated and just as ganado, I guess is the word, as you to win, you’ll give everything that you have physically and mentally,” she said. 

“At the end of the day, I’m an athlete. So, I get tired, I recover, and then I go back and I do it again. I choose [it] and it’s a constant effort to do it again and again and again and again, no matter whether you’re tired or you feel like you can climb Mount Everest,” Alex added. 

Her response drew reactions from tennis fans and netizens, with some commending how she handled the question while remaining respectful. 

One X user praised Alex’s answer, while also pointing out that reporters should be mindful of the questions asked of athletes. 

“I love watching Alex’s post-match press conferences, but sometimes the media need to know when to stop pushing the same narrative and just read the room. There’s a fine line between asking meaningful questions and being unnecessarily repetitive. Give the girl some credit for the hard work she’s putting in.”  

Another viewer on YouTube also noticed how Alex handled the exchange, commenting, “If y’all have noticed, Alex use favorable words in place of uncomfortable ones. She’s feisty in a good way.” 

Beyond the exchange, Alex also shared how much the win meant to her. 

“The win, I guess you could see in my reaction, was amazing. I think I really had to fight through especially with the chances that I had in the second set to close out the match.” 

“I think it took a lot of mental strength to do that and to be in the match and to stay in the present. So really happy about it,” she added. 

The Filipina also received support from fellow Filipinos in Hong Kong, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who made time to watch her compete. 

“Maraming maraming salamat sa mga nag-leave, sa mga bumili ng ticket, sa mga bumyahe. Lahat ng OFW dito sa Hong Kong, maraming salamat sa suporta kasi nararamdaman ko talaga lahat. Thank you.”  

Alex is set to face Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic in the quarterfinals.