“I knew I had to stay composed and believe in myself.” Alexandra “Alex” Eala’s words summed up the mindset that led her to a defining moment in her career. On March 21, 2025, the 19-year-old stunned World No. 25 and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko with a straight-sets victory, 7-6(2), 7-5, at the Miami Open. Big wins like these don’t happen overnight. For the Filipino, the journey started in 2018 when she packed her bags and moved to Spain to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy. But she’s not the only rising star from the academy making waves in Miami. Her boyfriend, Coleman Wong, is also leaving his mark. So, who is he?

Coleman Wong’s introduction to tennis was pure coincidence. At five years old, he wasn’t supposed to be on the court—his older sister Elana was the one taking lessons. But when she fell sick, he stepped in, unknowingly setting the stage for his own career. From that moment on, he was hooked.

Unlike many athletes, Wong doesn’t come from a sporting background. His father is a school principal, his mother is a teacher, and his sister works in banking. He’s the only one in his family pursuing a career in professional sports, making his rise even more remarkable. At 17, he made a life-changing decision.

He sat down with his parents and told them he needed to move to Spain to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar. He knew staying in Hong Kong wouldn’t be enough to take him to the top. His parents supported his dream, and four years later, he’s proving that the choice was the right one. He has even trained with Rafael Nadal multiple times, soaking up knowledge from one of the best in the game.

The 20-year-old’s junior career speaks for itself. Wong claimed the US Open boys’ doubles title in 2021 and followed it up with the Australian Open boys’ doubles crown in 2022. His professional breakthrough came in 2024 when he made his ATP Tour debut in Hong Kong.

A few months later, he successfully qualified for his first ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami. Wong has been steadily climbing the ranks, mostly competing on the Challenger circuit. But 2025 didn’t start in his favor. He struggled early on, losing eight of his first 13 matches, including qualifiers. That all changed when he arrived in Miami, where he found his groove again.

Thanks to a wildcard entry, Wong took full advantage of his opportunity. He opened his campaign with a confident 6-4, 6-3 win over Germany’s Daniel Altmaier. But his biggest statement came in the second round against 13th-seeded Ben Shelton. In a high-intensity battle, Wong edged out the American 7-6(3), 2-6, 7-6(5), securing a third-round spot in the Masters 1000 tournament.

Even his Academy’s mentor Rafael Nadal was beaming with pride over both of his protegee’s achievements!

Rafael Nadal congratulates couple Alex Eala and Coleman Wong on their Miami Open feat

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Despite stepping away from the tour last fall, Rafael Nadal remains closely connected to the sport. He has been keeping a watchful eye on the performances of two of his academy’s brightest prospects in Miami: Alexandra Eala and Coleman Wong.

Both players have made history at the tournament, reaching the third round for the first time in their respective nations’ histories. Eala, who has trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy since she was 13, couldn’t hold back her emotions after her upset win over Ostapenko. Her success didn’t go unnoticed by Nadal. “Congratulations Alex! What a great win for you and for [the Philippines],” he posted on X. The very next day, it was Wong’s turn to make headlines.

Ranked No. 182, he became the second-lowest-ranked male player to advance to the third round in Miami. His first-round victory over Germany’s Daniel Altmaier was historic, marking the first Masters 1000-level win for a player from Hong Kong. Nadal acknowledged his efforts too, writing, “There is a lot of effort behind these victories. We are very proud of you, Coleman! A historic win for Hong Kong.”

Eala will next face No. 5 seed and Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the third round, while Wong takes on lucky loser Adam Walton of Australia. With Nadal watching, can they keep their dream runs alive?