Vogue icon Anna Wintour impressed with Alex Eala's fashion sense

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala is not only making heads turn at the tennis court. She just caught the eye of fashion icon Anna Wintour, taking notice of the Alex’s sense of style.

Wintour, the British-American media executive and former Vogue editor-in-chief, praised the 21-year-old Filipina during an interview at the US Open in New York City this week.

“I think it’s really interesting, especially when you look at players like Serena or Naomi, who really embrace fashion and express themselves with it,” Wintour said in a clip shared by the tournament’s official social media page.

As Eala’s photo appeared in the clip, Wintour added, “We had the young Filipino star.”

“You could see, even in such a young star, how interested she is in fashion and how she wants to learn about it and follow it,” she continued.

Wintour then praised the growing connection between the two industries.

“I think it’s great, it’s wonderful how sports and fashion have become this wonderful sort of marriage,” she said.

By mentioning Eala alongside tennis icons Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, Wintour highlighted the young Filipino star among players who have embraced fashion as another way to express themselves both on and off the court.

Her comments quickly caught the attention of Eala’s fans, with many already hoping the tennis star could work with the fashion icon someday.

“Oh we need Eala for next year’s Met Gala,” one fan wrote.

Another commented, “Wow, Anna Wintour, the Met Gala fashion executive, mentioned Alex for her good fashion sense…”

But the connection between the two goes beyond Wintour’s comments. The two also crossed paths at the US Open, where Wintour was in attendance on Tuesday, Aug. 25, to watch tennis legend Roger Federer face former world No. 1 Andy Roddick in an exhibition match. Eala was also in the crowd, seated beside ATP players Casper Ruud and Félix Auger-Aliassime.

A video shared by an unofficial Alex Eala Facebook fan page showed Wintour and Eala meeting and shaking hands at the event.

Eala also appeared in an Instagram Reel posted by Vogue. The clips were taken from a gathering hosted by Wintour at Arthur Ashe Stadium to celebrate Federer’s return to the US Open, with Eala among the guests referred to as “friends of Vogue.”

Eala’s interest in fashion also runs in the family. Her uncle, fashion designer Rhett Eala, designed the modern Filipiniana she wore to the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid last April.

Her connection to Vogue is not entirely new, either. Eala has appeared on the cover of Vogue Philippines, which has also followed her rise as a tennis player and a young Filipino style figure.

Whether a Vogue cover or a Met Gala invitation remains to be seen. For now, getting a public fashion nod from Wintour herself is already quite the compliment.

The fashion buzz comes as Eala continues her campaign at the 2026 US Open. Just days before the tournament, she reached a career-high world No. 18 in the latest WTA rankings.

Eala was seeded No. 17 in the US Open women’s singles draw, her highest seeding in a Grand Slam tournament so far. She is set to face a qualifier from the first round.