Alex Eala honors 'Lolo Bob' who helped shape her tennis journey

Before the international spotlight, Grand Slam stages and growing Filipino support came years of intense training and family lessons that continue to guide Alex Eala.

For the 21-year-old Filipino tennis star, those lessons include the values instilled by her late grandfather, Roberto “Bobby” Maniego, who played an important role in shaping her early years in the sport.

Eala recently reflected on her family’s influence during an interview with “CBS Mornings” in the US, recalling how her grandfather’s guidance helped develop the discipline and resilience she relies on today.

Known to Eala as “Lolo Bob,” Maniego helped lay the foundation for her pursuit of tennis. She said the intensity of her training also came with lessons that extended far beyond the court.

“I think he just instilled so many values in me through practice and my training for tennis has always been quite intense,” Eala said.

Those lessons became increasingly important as Eala progressed from junior competitions to the professional circuit, where athletes face not only physical demands but also the pressure of competing on the world stage.

Eala credited both her grandfather and the rest of her family with preparing her for the challenges of becoming an elite athlete.

“[He] and my family have laid out a great foundation for me to be able to withstand the pressures that come with being an athlete at this level and the discipline that it takes.”

Eala’s rise has been marked by historic milestones, but she has often emphasized that her achievements are rooted in years of preparation, sacrifice and support from those around her.

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