"I remember after he graduated, he didn’t play for six months. Then I practised with him—and I still lost" - Alexandra Eala unable to find way of defeating older brother

Alexandra Eala is enjoying her time in Madrid. While her tournament ended in a 6-2, 6-1 defeat to Elise Mertens in the second round, there is many more positives to take from the venture. She especially relished the chance to see her family while discussing how she keeps losing to her brother on the tennis court.

She was beaming with positivity when asked how her year has been on court. "It’s been really amazing," she said on the Iguales podcast. "Of course, there have been lots of lessons, lots of ups and downs, but I’ve hit one year of playing fully on the WTA Tour since Miami last year. So I’m really, really happy with what I’ve been able to achieve and with the work ethic of my team and our dynamic."

The Filipino divulged more on the lessons that she was attempting to learn. "One thing I try to keep in mind is that when things are going bad or when you’re losing, it’s not as bad as it seems," she explained. "And when things are going well, it’s also not as good as it seems. So it’s about finding that balance—staying humble but also hungry. I like to say: treat triumph and disaster in a similar way."

Eala's older brother, Miko, now resides in the Spanish capital. He is an analyst at a consulting firm. According to her younger sibling, he is having a very good time in Madrid. "I think so. He’s found a good group of people and a rhythm. He’s been here for over a year, and I think he’s thriving."

Someone very close to her heart, Eala was full of praise for Miko. "He used to play tennis as well—he played Division I in the US—so he understands the lifestyle. He’s the first person I go to when I have problems. He’s a very kind, intelligent person, and I’ve learned a lot from him, especially about managing things. Whenever I need advice, I go to him."

She continued to describe their relationship, moving over to tennis. The 20-year-old revealed that she used to practice with him constantly until moving to Spain to train at the Rafael Nadal Academy.

However, even training at the prestigious academy has not equipped Eala to defeat her brother. "I’ve had to let go of the goal of beating him. The gap has always been quite big. I remember after he graduated, he didn’t play for six months and kept saying he was out of shape. Then I practised with him—and I still lost. I think I have a mental block when I play him. If anyone wants to know how to beat me, they should ask my brother."

Eala outlined a usual day for her in Spain. "I was staying with my brother before moving to the hotel. A typical day would be waking up, doing two to two-and-a-half hours of training, then about an hour and a half in the gym, with lunch in between. I’ll also have physio, sometimes media duties, and then dinner with my family."

Tennis is based around routines with it the constant same cycle. However, the positive thing about being in Madrid is that she can switch off by spending some much needed time with her family. "Tennis is very repetitive, and routines can feel that way too. But what I like about Madrid is that my family is here, so I’ve been able to disconnect.

"For example, when I go to dinner with my parents and their friends, nobody talks about tennis. It’s refreshing. You can kind of “clock out” after work. The other day I had a bad training session, but at dinner nobody mentioned tennis, and I was able to reset and train well the next day."

As importance as family is for her, friendships have played a crucial part along with that. Now a fully-fledged member of the WTA Tour, she has had the chance to spend a lot more time with certain players and is reaping the rewards of this away from the court.

"This year, I’ve really developed friendships on tour, and that’s so important," she said. "Because we’re always travelling, it’s hard to form normal friend groups, but these friendships mean a lot. Small things like chatting in the gym, grabbing a coffee, or just spending time together help me a lot. Also, my team—we get along really well, they make me laugh. The people you surround yourself with are the most important thing."

Added to that, the benefits go onto the court as well. "I never take it for granted. The life we live is demanding, but it’s amazing. We’ve all dreamed of this. Those friendships and moments help lighten the mood, and I think they even help us perform better on court."