Who Is Miko Eala? Meet Alex Eala's Older Brother Who's Also a Tennis Player
He once played tennis with his idol, Rafael Nadal.
Published on Aug 12, 2026
Alex Eala has become a familiar name on the international tennis circuit, but her path to the sport began much closer to home. Her older brother, Miko Eala, was one of her earliest tennis partners—and a competitive player in his own right.
From junior tournaments in the Philippines to tennis in the US, Miko has built a career that has taken him across different stages of the sport. Here are five things to know about Alex’s older brother.
Who Is Miko Eala?
Miko Eala is a tennis player in his own right.
Michael Francis “Miko” Eala was the first of the Eala siblings to pick up a tennis racket. Growing up, he and Alex trained and competed together, with their grandfather, Bob “Lolo Bob” Eala, introducing both siblings to the sport.
Alex has spoken about how much she looked up to Miko growing up. In a 2024 Instagram post congratulating him on his college graduation, she recalled copying the things he did and said because she wanted to be like him.
Their relationship also developed on the court. In another Instagram post, Alex described tennis as something that initially brought her and Miko together, recalling the times they played in age-group tournaments in the Philippines and trained together almost every day.
He was already making a name for himself as a junior player.
Miko started building his own reputation on the junior tennis circuit while still young, competing in tournaments in the Philippines and overseas. He eventually earned a scholarship to the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, where he could continue training while pursuing his studies.
His time on the junior circuit included tournament wins in Cyprus and Portugal, according to Philstar, and he eventually reached the top 100 of the ITF junior rankings.
He once played tennis with Rafael Nadal.
Miko’s time at the Rafa Nadal Academy came with an experience most tennis players would consider a pretty memorable day at work: he got to play a friendly match with Rafael Nadal.
In a 2020 interview with Manila Bulletin, Miko said Rafael had been his inspiration in tennis since he was a child. He also described playing against his idol as a surreal experience.
He played for Penn State University.
Miko moved to the US to attend Penn State University, where he played Division I tennis while studying finance. He spent four years with the Nittany Lions, eventually becoming captain of the men’s tennis team.
His college years also marked a transition from junior tennis to a more competitive level of play. Miko continued competing internationally during this period, including representing the Philippines at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
He has since moved into finance and consulting.
After graduating from Penn State with a degree in finance, Miko began building a career outside professional tennis. According to his LinkedIn, he currently works as a consultant in Madrid, where he advises corporate clients, private equity firms, and infrastructure funds on telecom and satellite deals in Spain.
Kat is Preview's Lifestyle Editor, explorer, and occasional rhymer. When not globe-trotting, she's over her computer, writing her next big novel.