CLAIM: Oprah Winfrey posted on social media that Alex Eala’s popularity was due to her image and the controversies that surround her, not because of her tennis skills.
RATING: FALSE
A Facebook post uploaded by the page “The Tennis Lab” falsely claimed that American talk-show host Oprah Winfrey had criticized Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala, saying that she only became popular because of her personality and not her tennis skills.
Flagged content: On Feb. 26, the Facebook page uploaded a graphic featuring photos of Eala and Winfrey.
- Superimposed is a block of text which read: “Oprah Winfrey just broke her silence on Alex Eala — and she didn’t hold back! Oprah Winfrey posted on social media: “I’ve been watching Alex Eala dominate the headlines lately, and let’s be real — it’s not because of her exceptional tennis talent.”
Our debunk: Winfrey did not release any statement of that nature on her social media.
- The latest posts on her official Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube were unrelated to Eala.
- Her X account, meanwhile, has been inactive since 2021.
- Social media pages related to programs she hosts, namely the Oprah Winfrey Network, Oprah Daily, Oprah’s Book Club, and the Oprah Podcast, did not mention Eala in any of their posts.
- There is no public record of Winfrey mentioning the Filipino tennis player.
Rewind: In March 2025, Eala made history by being the first Filipino to enter the World Tennis Association (WTA) top 100. In November 2025, she climbed into the top 50. As of writing, she is ranked 32nd.
- Her achievements in tennis have gained considerable media traction and interest among Filipinos.
- She has been the subject of disinformation online, as social media posts mentioning her are sure to draw significant engagement.
Why we fact-checked this: As of writing, the post has been shared 324 times and has drawn 8,600 reactions and 1,800 comments.
- The account that made the post, The Tennis Lab, has 11,000 followers.
- The same claim has been reposted on Facebook groups and by other Facebook pages.
Spot the fake: Over the past year, Eala has received significant media coverage. Verify claims about her by checking for reports from trusted media organizations.
- Claims about her are usually accompanied by external links that lead to other websites.
- Check whether the report is hosted on legitimate news websites. Vanya Danyella Barachita
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