Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala and OPM hitmaker Zack Tabudlo have been named to the 2026 Forbes Asia “30 Under 30” list, earning recognition for their achievements in sports and entertainment.

Forbes Asia cited Eala’s meteoric rise in international tennis, highlighted by her standout performances over the past year.

The 21-year-old broke into the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Top 50 in 2025 and reached a career-high ranking of No. 29 in March 2026 — the highest ever for a Filipina player in the modern era.

Her breakthrough run included a strong showing at the 2025 Miami Open, where she became the first Filipina to defeat two Top 10 players in a single tournament.

She also reached her first WTA Tour final at the Eastbourne International and made history as the first Filipina to win a Grand Slam singles main-draw match in the U.S. Open.

Eala capped her banner year by winning the women’s singles gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, the Philippines’ first title in the event since 1999.

She followed it up in early 2026 with a doubles victory at the ASB Classic in Auckland, where she teamed up to defeat veteran Venus Williams.

A product of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, Eala first gained global attention after winning the U.S. Open girls’ title in 2022, becoming the first Filipino junior Grand Slam singles champion.

Forbes noted her role in sparking renewed interest in tennis among Filipinos.

Meanwhile, Tabudlo was recognized for his influence in the music industry, particularly his viral hits and streaming dominance across Southeast Asia.

His songs “Pano” and “Give Me Your Forever” became major successes following their release in 2021, helping him become the most-streamed Filipino artist of 2022, according to Spotify.

A former contestant on “The Voice Kids” in 2014, Tabudlo signed with Mercury Records under Universal Music Group in 2025. He embarked on a Southeast Asia tour in 2024 and returned to “The Voice Kids” as a coach in September, where his mentee Sofia Mallares emerged as champion.

The annual Forbes “30 Under 30” list honors young innovators, entrepreneurs and rising stars across the region who are making a significant impact in their respective fields despite global challenges.

Eala and Tabudlo join a growing number of Filipinos gaining international recognition, underscoring the country’s expanding presence in both global sports and entertainment.