“Once it grows, it cannot be stopped” – tennis superstar-in-the-making Alex Eala is quickly becoming the biggest thing to come out of the Philippines since legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao.
The 21-year-old is carrying the hopes of a nation, the volume of support when she plays calling to mind the days when world boxing champion ‘Pac Man’ put the country on the map as a sporting force.
Few young players on the WTA Tour have experienced the level of expectation and support Eala has received since she earned a place on the circuit, and she showed what all the fuss is about by winning the recent Washington Open.
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After a run to the fourth round of Wimbledon, which included a victory over defending champion Iga Swiatek, Eala capped her breakthrough in the US capital by rallying to defeat top seed Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-4 6-0 in a rain-interrupted final, becoming the first woman from her country to claim a tour-level singles crown.
Along the way, she beat Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, last year’s winner Leylah Fernandez, second seed Elina Svitolina and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
Her remarkable run of victories mark her down out as a dangerous outsider for the US Open, starting August 30 – live on Sky Sports.
“It’s an incredible milestone for me,” said Eala, who moved to Spain to attend the Rafa Nadal Academy on a scholarship at the age of 13. “Coming into the tournament, I knew that the competition was super strong and my draw was quite tough. Every match was a different set of obstacles. I’m really proud.
“I ended the tournament in better shape than I started. Each match I kept improving and kept learning things about myself. So it definitely gives me a lot of confidence.
“It’s really nice to see all the things I’ve been working on off court or during training being implemented in matches.”
Rise of the Filipino superstar-in-waiting
Eala’s progress has been closely watched since her US Open junior triumph in 2022, and she reached the Eastbourne final last year before making the fourth round at Wimbledon – signalling a steady improvement.
As Eala’s reputation grew, so too did her following, with large groups of Filipino fans packing the stands at tournaments around the world to back a player many see as a pioneer for tennis in their country.
Her popularity – like Pacquiao in his heyday – was evident in the final of the WTA 500 event in Washington. By the time the tournament ended, the phrase written across the Nike T-shirt she had worn earlier that week had become a reality: “Once it grows, it cannot be stopped.”
Eala has drawn huge support from the Filipino community at her matches
Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos released a message on social media congratulating Eala on “yet another historic achievement”, adding: “You continue to redefine what is possible for Philippine tennis and inspire countless young Filipinos to dream without limits.”
The Philippines’ sporting interests have historically been all about basketball, billiards and boxing, but the nation is now being swept up in tennis fever.
‘Eala is class with a awkward lefty serve’
Sky Sports analyst Annabel Croft believes Eala can be one of the “biggest stars” and is “just what the tour needs” following her success in Washington.
The former British No 1 said: “I’ve never seen anything like it. The stadium, you could not get a seat. The noise, the excitement levels, and she just takes it all in her stride. And you could see in Washington what she brings to the court and she plays with such grace.
“There’s a certain class about her. I love her attitude. I love the way she goes after the ball. She’s a very deceptive tennis player. Being a lefty, she’s quite awkward, but that forehand it’s not a huge strike, but it does damage.”
Eala has a similar serve to 2018 Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber
Croft has likened Eala’s serve to that of former Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber who relied heavily on her left-handed spin, placement, and variation.
She said: “I would imagine that she has built up some kind of locker-room respect right now where you build a certain aura and then that counts for quite a lot on the tour as well because players don’t want to face you because of the record that she’s building up.
“There’s something awkward about a lefty serve, a little bit like Kerber. I remember she didn’t have a big serve, but it was so well placed into the court. But also when you put a lot of spin on it and it sometimes has less pace on it, you’re forcing your opponents to generate pace and they start to get a bit jittery.
“She keeps notching up the big wins, but she’s also backing up the pressure wins.
“She plays under a lot of pressure with all of that excitement from the Filipino community. They turn out in their droves to watch her. That for some people would be a pressure, but she embraces it. She loves it.”
Is Eala a US Open contender?
Is Eala a contender to win the US Open?
Asked whether Eala could be a contender at the US Open, Croft said: “She’s obviously somebody who enjoys being on a big stage. There will be a lot of players that won’t want to face her because she’s very in form. And I think the hard courts really suit her game.”
Eala partnered American tennis legend Venus Williams in the doubles in Toronto this month, resuming their pairing from the Bad Homburg Open in Germany earlier this year.
Williams had high praise for Eala, saying: “Alex is a world star. She’s just incredible. Besides the fact of her tennis, she’s an incredible person, well spoken, and just an impressive young lady.”
Eala has the potential to rival the popularity of legendary Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao
Meanwhile, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has thanked Eala for bringing the Filipino community to tennis.
“I think it’s great,” said the Japanese star. “I finished my match and the little go-kart was taking me back. I looked at the practice court and it was completely full. I was like, ‘who’s practising right now?’ She didn’t even go on court yet and then I saw the Filipino flags and I was like, ‘um-hum’.
“I think it’s awesome. It’s so cool that she’s building a new community and obviously great for the tournament, because she sells a lot of tickets.”
Watch the ATP and WTA Tours live on Sky Sports. The US Open is also live on Sky Sports from August 30. Stream tennis with NOW and the Sky Sports App.