Filipino Tennis Star Eala Draws Record Australian Open Crowd

When thousands of fans created a queue stretching hundreds of yards at the Australian Open, organizers thought a major star must be practicing. Instead, they were all there for Alexandra Eala, a 20-year-old from the Philippines ranked 49th in the world.

Eala's pre-tournament press conference attracted 171,000 online viewers. That's nearly six times more than tennis superstars Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff drew for theirs.

The massive turnout came from Melbourne's 60,000-strong Filipino community, who packed Court Six wearing their national colors and waving flags. "I didn't expect that many people to be there," Eala said after her first-round match.

For the Philippines, a nation with limited tennis history, Eala represents something bigger than sports. She became the first Filipina to win a WTA Tour match in 2021 and the first to capture a junior Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open.

Her upset victory over six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek at last year's Miami Open cemented her status as a national hero. Back home, she graced the cover of Vogue and now competes with boxing legend Manny Pacquiao as the country's most beloved athlete.

The Ripple Effect

Eala's impact extends far beyond the tennis court. "She always carries the flag and the country proudly," said Imee Vee, who traveled from Sydney specifically to watch her play.

In the Philippines, people stop what they're doing to tune into her matches. She dominates sports coverage and inspires a new generation to pick up rackets in a country where tennis was once barely on the radar.

The overwhelming support caught Australian Open organizers off guard. Putting her match on a 1,500-seat court when thousands showed up sparked criticism, and security had to clear areas when crowds exceeded capacity.

Tournament officials acknowledged the scheduling misstep and promised to learn for next year. Though Eala lost her first-round singles match, her presence made history.

At just 20 years old and trained at Rafael Nadal's academy in Mallorca, Eala is still learning to navigate her newfound fame while staying grateful for the support that follows her around the world.