'I get overwhelmed sometimes': Filipino Eala admits to weight of expectation

[p]The 21-year-old leaves the Asian Games having fallen short of her ambition to win gold for her country, instead settling for bronze.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/eala-alexandra/ppu9X7PH/"]Eala[/a] is followed everywhere by adoring fans eager for a piece of the world number 18, who in August became the first player from the Philippines to win a title on the women's WTA Tour.[/p][p][b]"I definitely do get overwhelmed sometimes,"[/b] said Eala.[/p][p][b]"But I understand that it's such a privilege to be in the position that I'm in and to be able to live out the dreams that I've always had as a kid.[/b][/p][p]"So it's something I've had to accept that it comes with the job, and this is how things are.[/p][p][b]"I'm ready for the challenge."[/b][/p][embed guid="2b604115-a299-4254-9fd5-03bb2d1a082d" url="https://x.com/asian_tennis/status/2105933327077408940" social-type="twitter" /][p]Eala, who skipped the prestigious China Open in Beijing to play for her country at the Asian Games, said she would take away good memories despite exiting in the semi-finals in a three-set defeat to China's lower-ranked [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wang-xinyu-2001/8jMJmh84/"]Wang Xinyu[/a].[/p][p]Wang went on to beat compatriot [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zhang-shuai/OY0ZExo5/"]Zhang Shuai[/a] to win gold on Friday.[/p][p][b]"It does come with pressure, but I'm really happy that I was able to compete here," [/b]said Eala, who was the top seed.[/p][p][b]"To be able to share it with the Filipino people is really important,"[/b] she added.[/p][p][b]"No regrets. I left everything on the court,"[/b] said Eala.[/p][embed guid="a3f3d659-ec8b-4790-86ce-4569f1890a66" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2103526944096637145" social-type="twitter" /][p]With Games gold comes direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.[/p][p]Eala said it was still her "dream" to play in LA.[/p][p][b]"There are other ways of qualifying for the Olympics, so I guess it's also an extra motivation," [/b]she said.[/p][p][b]"Competing in the Olympics is definitely a dream of mine. So, if anything, I leave here more motivated."[/b][/p]