Alex Eala has returned to New York for the U.S. Open, arriving at a career-best world ranking of 18. At just 21 years old, the Filipino athlete is currently on a trajectory that suggests she is becoming one of the sport’s future faces, with a fan base that has grown significantly in size and intensity over the past year.
Her presence at Flushing Meadows is expected to be a major highlight, prompting ESPN analyst Patrick McEnroe to suggest that tournament organizers should avoid placing her on smaller side courts early in the competition. “The crowd is going to be wild for her,” McEnroe noted, emphasizing the scale of her popularity.
This surge in attention follows a breakthrough year that included a round of 16 appearance at Wimbledon and a historic victory in Washington, where she became the first player from the Philippines to secure a singles title on the tour. During that final, she overcame a set deficit against third-ranked Jessica Pegula. Reflecting on her recent progress, Eala noted that competing against top-tier players more frequently has been instrumental in her professional growth.
Eala’s rise has been marked by a grounded approach, which she attributes in part to her experiences training and playing doubles alongside Venus Williams this summer. She expressed deep gratitude for her supporters, describing herself as “a drop in the ocean” while acknowledging the collective history of the WTA and ATP tours. “It keeps me motivated to work harder and stay among these incredible people,” she said.
The scale of her support was evident during a practice session with former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka, which drew a substantial audience. Osaka praised Eala’s demeanor, stating, “She brings such an amazing crowd, even for practice. I really like her. I think she’s got a really solid head on her shoulders. She seems so grateful for everything.”
Mary Joe Fernandez, a former world No. 4 turned ESPN analyst, highlighted Eala as a major attraction for the tournament. Fernandez, who observed Eala’s “off the charts” fan following firsthand in Miami last year, remarked that the intensity of her support is remarkable. “Her game’s really good. She backs it up. She’s improved tremendously, I think, in the last 12 months when we saw her break through,” Fernandez added.
The connection between Eala and her fans was well-documented at last year’s U.S. Open, where more than 8,000 spectators packed the Grandstand to watch her rally from a 5-1 deficit in the third set to defeat 14th-ranked Clara Tauson. The atmosphere was electric, with supporters waving Filipino flags throughout the comeback.
Looking ahead, Eala is scheduled to face American qualifier Mary Stoiana in her first-round match. A successful run through the opening rounds could potentially lead to a high-profile showdown with fourth-seeded Coco Gauff, a matchup that would likely command a spot on center stage at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The report also notes that and at just 21 appears to be on a trajectory to stardom that has outgrown all but the biggest venues at Flushing Meadows, eala is now up to a career-best 18th in the world. The report also notes that “Better make sure they don’t put her on one of those side courts early in the tournament.”. The report also notes that she called herself “a drop in the ocean” while downplaying her impact on the sport, back at a Grand Slam after reaching the round of 16 at Wimbledon. The report also notes that “Every single WTA player and every single ATP player has contributed to the world of tennis and its history just by being here and by putting in the work every single day.”. The report also notes that she has also studied tennis history along the way and realized how much work it takes to get to the top. The report also notes that “It’s just gotten bigger and bigger everywhere she goes,” Fernandez said.
Source: Gulf News
