Alex Eala has described the surge in her popularity over the past year as something that took her by surprise, as the Philippines star prepares for her campaign at the Hong Kong Open.
Speaking to AFP in an interview reported by Free Malaysia Today, the 21-year-old looked back on January's Australian Open, where she featured in the main draw for the first time. Long queues of Filipino supporters gathered to watch her first-round meeting with American Alycia Parks, filling a small court well beyond capacity. Eala lost the match and, after greeting fans, was escorted away under heavy security. She said she had faced crowds before but never on that scale, adding that unexpected moments tend to leave a deeper impression.
Her season gathered pace from there. At Wimbledon in July she reached the last 16, her best showing at a Grand Slam, and an image of her diving across the court spread widely online. She then made history in Washington, DC, defeating four-time major winner Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals before beating top seed Jessica Pegula to become the first player from the Philippines to lift a WTA singles trophy.
Eala now sits at a career-high ranking of 17 and regularly draws large crowds of compatriots wherever she competes. She said engaging with supporters, even after defeats, is her way of showing that their backing is valued.
The second seed in Hong Kong, she opens her campaign against Parks once again. Venus Williams, 46, with whom Eala has partnered in doubles, is also in the field. Eala praised the American's aggressive mindset and work ethic, saying she tries to observe and learn from her.
She also has close ties to Rafael Nadal, having developed at his academy in Mallorca. When Time magazine named her among the world's most influential rising stars in September, Nadal noted she was the first player he had shared a court with since retiring two years ago and praised her warmth and humility. Eala said the pair stay in occasional contact, though she admitted the 22-time Grand Slam champion still makes her nervous: "I still get intimidated when I'm around him."