Filipino rising tennis star Alex Eala revealed her shock at the overwhelming popularity she has gained, especially in her home country, noting that it was unexpected for her. This came during an interview this week at the Hong Kong tournament, when she was reminded of an incident that occurred last January.
Shock in Melbourne
On a hot and sunny day in January last year in Melbourne, Eala competed for the first time in the main draw of the Australian Open, the first of the four Grand Slam tournaments. Large crowds of Filipino fans gathered to watch her, and the small court hosting her first-round match against American Alicia Parks was packed to capacity.
After losing the match, she spent some time greeting her fans before being escorted off the court by security detail resembling that provided for heads of state. The 21-year-old player said: "It is hard to forget. Yes, it was shocking. I have experienced large crowds before, but I think it was probably the first time I faced something of this magnitude."
Historic achievements
Eala added: "I think such moments have a slightly stronger impact when they are unexpected." In the Philippines, which had never previously produced a player of world-class level, Eala has become a major star, reaching the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in July, her best result in a Grand Slam tournament.
She then achieved another milestone by defeating four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka of Japan in the Washington tournament semifinals, before beating top-ranked American Jessica Pegula to claim the title. Eala became the first Filipino player to win a singles title on the WTA Tour.
Rising ranking
She continued her upward trajectory to currently hold the 17th position in the world rankings, her highest career ranking. This high ranking has increased the scenes of her being surrounded by large crowds of her countrymen wherever she plays, reflecting her significant impact on sports in the Philippines.
Eala continues to build her name as one of the most prominent rising stars in the world of tennis, with continued massive public support.
Source: Arriyadiyah newspaper
Comments (0)