{"id":97350,"date":"2026-02-04T13:54:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T18:54:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=97350"},"modified":"2026-02-04T13:54:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T18:54:35","slug":"alexandra-eala-reveals-training-with-rafael-nadal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2026\/02\/04\/alexandra-eala-reveals-training-with-rafael-nadal\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cI Was Very Nervous\u201d: Alexandra Eala Reveals What Training With Rafael Nadal Was Like"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alexandra Eala<\/a>\u2019s steady rise in tennis has been one of the more intriguing storylines on the WTA Tour over the past year or so, particularly given that she comes from a nation with no true tennis pedigree at the professional level, despite being one of the most passionate sporting nations in the world.<\/p>\n

2025 saw Eala break into the Top 50 of the WTA rankings for the first time, backed by multiple deep runs at multiple tournaments. Among the highlights were a surprise semifinal run at the Miami Open, where she defeated the Iga Swiatek along the way, and her first WTA Tour title at the WTA Guadalajara 125 Open.<\/p>\n

Training at the Rafa Nadal Academy<\/h3>\n

One aspect of Eala\u2019s development that has garnered significant interest is her off-court training base. The Filipina has spent several years working at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, continuing to refine her game.<\/p>\n

Late in 2025, Eala was given a rare opportunity when she shared a hitting session with none other than Rafael Nadal himself. Remarkably, it marked Nadal\u2019s first time back on a tennis court in any capacity since his retirement.<\/p>\n

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Eela Reflects on Training With Rafael Nadal<\/h3>\n

Now competing at the WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi, Eala has revealed for the first time what that experience was like. Speaking in her post-match press conference after winning her opening-round match, she said<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was crazy, it was the first time I\u2019d played with him, and I was very nervous. It was physically demanding, even though he\u2019d been off the tennis court for a year… Just to say that I trained with Rafa is incredible. I feel very lucky and blessed. He told me that it\u2019s important to surround yourself with good people, and that\u2019s great advice. He also told me other things about my game, that was what impressed me the most.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n