Alex Eala has expressed her gratitude for the strong and growing Filipino presence supporting her during the Australian Swing, saying the warm reception has made her feel right at home as she competes on one of tennis’ biggest stages.
The Australian Open featured the Filipina star on its official social media pages, posting a video where Eala spoke about the overwhelming support she has received from fans in Melbourne and across Australia.
“It was amazing. It’s been amazing. In this part of the world, there are a lot of Filipinos. But the turnout this year has grown significantly I would say from the past years, so I’m so happy to see this environment,” she said.
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“People are excited. When I’m on court, they’re excited to see me. It’s flattering and it makes me feel welcome for sure,” Eala shared.
The World No. 49 has become one of the most visible Filipino athletes on the global tennis stage, and her rise has been mirrored by an increasing number of fans turning up courtside, waving Philippine flags and cheering her on throughout her matches.
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Eala is set to carry that momentum into her Australian Open main-draw debut on Sunday, when she faces American Alycia Parks. The match will mark Eala’s first WTA Tour meeting against Parks, ranked World No. 100.
With Filipino fans expected to once again fill the stands, Eala will look to draw energy from the support she says has made her Australian Open experience even more special.