NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Eala's fans came bearing Filipino flags and wearing hats telling her to fight on (“Laban Alex”). They cheered her sizzling groundstrokes, documented her volleys and serves in photos and video, and in some cases FaceTimed with friends or family. And this was only at the practice courts. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
It was about four hours before Eala was to take the court for her first-round U.S. Open match Monday night, and every seat at the practice court was filled. Many of Eala's fans didn't have tickets for the evening session. But they'd come to see their idol hit some tennis balls.
It was hardly surprising, given the enormous, ardent, ever-growing fan base that now surrounds the charismatic 21-year-old. This summer has seen Eala beat Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon and win her first tour singles title, at Washington. She's at a career-best 18th in the world, and many think she'll continue her ascent.
One of the fans watching on a rainy afternoon was Andrea Belen, at 21 the same age as Eala. Belen, a premed student at New York University, explained that she hadn't been a big tennis fan until Eala came along — someone who looked just like her.
Belen's father back home in Cleveland (the family's originally from Laguna in the Philippines) also became a tennis fan out of pure admiration for Eala. “It's his new obsession,” Belen said. “It's become the family hobby.”
She and her friend, Sarah Frederick, had arrived at the practice court long before Eala was to appear, surmising correctly that the seats would fill quickly. Belen explained that in the Philippines, basketball and boxing reign supreme, and the sports heroes are men. “It's just really nice to see a woman out there,” Belen said. “Also, she speaks in our native language, Tagalog.”
As Belen chatted and Eala pounded her groundstrokes, a voice from the row behind Belen called out: “Yay, Alex!” Ellene Santos had come to support her as well.