Filipinos online quickly called out Canadian news outlet CBC News Toronto after it mistakenly referred to tennis star Alex Eala as an “American of Filipino origin” during a live broadcast on August 5, 2026.
Photo: Alex Eala/Instagram
The mix-up happened when anchor David Common interviewed Abby Albino—co-founder of Rise Tribe, an organization empowering Filipino-Canadian youth—about the massive crowd support Eala was receiving at the National Bank Open in Toronto.
“Now, Alex Eala is an American of Filipino origin. She’s not Canadian. So why is she getting all this attention, do you think?” Common asked.
Filipino netizens were quick to catch the error, and urged the broadcaster to issue a public correction. Fans also noticed that Albino, who they pointed out as a fellow Filipino, missed the opportunity to correct the anchor on air.
Eala was born in Quezon City to Filipino parents, Michael “Mike” Eala and former national swimmer Rosemarie “Rizza” Maniego-Eala. At age 13, she moved to Mallorca, Spain, after earning a full scholarship to the Rafa Nadal Academy following her victory at the prestigious Les Petits As junior tournament in France in January 2018.
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Despite living abroad for nearly half her life, Eala remains fiercely loyal to her home country and retains her Philippine citizenship—frequently sharing in interviews that securing last-minute travel visas as an athlete on a Philippine passport remains a real struggle.
The Pinay tennis sensation recently made history as the first Filipino to win a WTA Tour singles title at the WTA 500 Mubadala DC Open before heading to Toronto to compete at the National Bank Open.
ALSO READ: LOOK: Alex Eala Hits a New Career-High in the WTA Live Rankings
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