EJ Obiena Defends Alex Eala and Speaks Out Against Harsh Fan Criticism

Filipino athletes carry the hopes of a nation whenever they compete, but the pressure that comes with holding the flag can also make every loss a subject of public scrutiny. With tennis star Alex Eala facing criticism after a string of recent defeats, fellow athlete EJ Obiena is reminding fans that athletes deserve support even when the results do not go their way.

In an Instagram post shared on October 19, the Filipino pole vaulter addressed the pressure athletes face when their results fall short of expectations, arguing that a losing streak should not be treated as a measure of their overall ability or hard work.

“So asking if Alex’s string of losses suggests she has failed is the wrong question (or for any national athlete for that matter, yours truly included),” EJ wrote.

The tennis star recently exited the Wuhan Open in the first round after losing to China’s Han Shi. This followed her semifinal loss to Wang Xiyu at the 2026 Asian Games, where she secured a bronze medal, and her round-of-16 exit at the Singapore Tennis Open against Tatiana Prozorova.

Addressing the scrutiny that comes with professional sports, EJ pointed out how a single competition can overshadow months or even years of preparation.

“Our performance strongly defines us as athletes. The day of competition, unfairly, validates the thousands of hours we have spent training and pushing,”  he wrote. “Imagine your professional life being defined by one meeting; one project; one day of work? That is sports, with its curves and edges.”

EJ also pushed back against the expectation that athletes should always win, citing tennis champion Novak Djokovic as an example of how even the sport’s most successful players experience defeat. He added that athletes are often treated as if they are above ordinary human struggles, despite facing good days and bad days like everyone else.

“We may be treated as ‘Gods’ of some sort. But we are not. We are human,” he wrote. “And like all humans we have good days and bad days.”

For EJ, progress in sports can also come through disappointing performances and difficult stretches. As he put it, “There is no such thing as failure in attempting, and in sports, there are good days and bad days, and some days you win and some days you lose, which is what gives sport its beauty and toughness.”

He ended his post by urging fans to consider how their comments affect athletes who are already dealing with the disappointment of a loss.

“If you want to help Alex, me, or any of our athletes, pick them up when they are down,” EJ wrote, adding that harsh social media comments will not help competitors return stronger.

His final reminder was directed at anyone watching from the sidelines. “Just ask yourself, ‘How do I want to be supported when I have a bad day?’ And act accordingly. That’s the classy thing to do."