FACT CHECK: Photo of Alex Eala carrying Sara…

In August 2026, a social media post featuring professional tennis player Alex Eala went viral for allegedly showing the athlete carrying a bag branded with the face and name of Vice President Sara Duterte. The image, which included the year 2028, was shared in a political support group, leading some users to falsely believe Eala was endorsing a presidential bid.

What happened

The image was identified as a fabrication through reverse image searches and AI detection software. Analysis revealed that the original, unaltered photograph captured Eala carrying a bag from a sports brand she represents as a global ambassador. This original photo was taken ahead of her Mubadala DC Open Finals match against Jessica Pegula and was previously documented by sports journalist Dyan Castillejo and the Rafa Nadal Academy.

Technical verification confirmed the manipulation: the tool Sightengine indicated a 99% probability that the photo was AI-generated or edited. Additional checks via ZeroGPT and DeepAI yielded similar results, with a 94% probability of manipulation. The disinformation appears to have been crafted to associate the high-profile athlete with the Vice President’s political agenda. This incident is part of a broader pattern of disinformation targeting Eala, who has previously been the subject of fake quote cards and other AI-generated imagery due to her status as the highest-ranked Filipina tennis player in history.