Adorned with Philippine flags and custom headwear bearing words of encouragement, passionate tennis fans packed the US Open practice courts on Monday, August 21, to get a glimpse of rising star Alex Eala.
Hours before her main evening appearance, supporters jammed every available seat, recording her practice routines, cheering her sharp groundstrokes, and broadcasting the training session to relatives via video calls—even though many lacked tickets for the actual tournament match.
The overwhelming turnout reflects the swelling global fan base of the 21-year-old phenom, who recently vaulted to a world ranking of No. 18 following a landmark victory over Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon and her inaugural WTA singles title in Washington.
Among the crowd was 21-year-old New York University pre-med student Andrea Belen, who shared that Eala’s rise inspired her family—originally from Laguna, Philippines—to embrace the sport.
“It’s his new obsession,” Belen said regarding her father’s newfound passion for tennis. “It’s become the family hobby.”
Belen added that Eala breaks traditional boundaries in a country historically dominated by male figures in basketball and boxing.
“It’s just really nice to see a woman out there,” Belen observed. “Also, she speaks in our native language, Tagalog.”
The enthusiasm spanned generations across the venue. Ellene Santos, 67, traveled from Orlando, Florida, simply to experience the practice session in person.
“I’m happy now,” Santos said.
Nearby, a group of retired healthcare workers donned blue hats embroidered with “Laban Alex”—a Tagalog phrase encouraging her to fight.
“I love how Alex shows she is so proud to be from the Philippines,” remarked 65-year-old Joy Rodriguez, alongside her friend Maria Espiritu, 67, who was attending her very first live tennis tournament.
International travelers also joined the crowd, including 77-year-old Manila resident Frances Arespacochaga, who journeyed from Massachusetts with her sister to cheer for Eala in person.
“She’s very intelligent, very articulate,” Arespacochaga noted. “In her interviews you can see her values.”
Reflecting on the passionate backing Eala receives, Belen highlighted how Filipino sports fans rally intensely around national athletes, drawing a comparison to gymnast Carlos Yulo’s double-gold triumph at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Everyone went crazy,” she recalled. “We’re not that big of a country so those golds meant so much.”
“We’re very loud when it comes to supporting our people,” Belen added.
As Eala advances through the tournament, that vocal support shows every sign of growing stronger.