Alex Eala details life shifts on return to the Philippines after rising as a tennis star

Alexandra Eala’s path to stardom has been remarkably swift, and her influence on the sport is undeniable.

What started at the Rafael Nadal Academy has quickly turned into a headline-grabbing career, with fans filling venues just to see her play.

Her connection with fans runs deeper than just her skills on court. The support from the Filipino community has played a major role in growing a fanbase that is helping bring new attention to tennis.

Eala is not just playing in front of packed houses – she is expanding tennis into areas it had not reached before, and people are rightly recognising the impact she is having.

But even when it looks perfect from the outside, not everything about fame is positive. It often comes with its own pressures and drawbacks.

Alexandra Eala reflects on how much her life has changed over the last year

Speaking on the Australian Open’s podcast, The Sit-Down, Eala spoke about how her life has changed over the last year or so.

She said: “I haven’t been home a lot [recently], unfortunately. The times I have been home, I have felt so loved though. Things have changed, to say the least!

“I try to avoid going out alone now, but then again, it’s blessings and just gratitude.”

Eala is clearly enjoying the chance she has created for herself. She is a proud Filipina who is setting an example for future tennis players.

When asked about representing her country alongside other rising stars like Janice Tjen for Indonesia and Joao Fonseca for Brazil, the 20-year-old stated: “It’s so nice to know that I am doing what I can for the sport, because tennis has given me so much.

“So all I can do to give back to tennis I will do to the best that I can.

“It’s so nice to see in example my region South East Asia, there are four women in the main draw from there alone, me, Janice, Mai and Lana. So it’s such a great time for women’s sport in our region and women’s tennis. I am so happy to be a part of that.”

What Novak Djokovic said about Alex Eala and her fans

Eala was already a big name before the Australian Open, but the response to her first-round appearance took things to another level.

Even with just 1,500 seats in Court 6, fans packed the area with long lines stretching outside as people hoped for even a brief look. Many ended up turned away once the court reached capacity.

While heading into another men’s final at Melbourne Park, Novak Djokovic took a moment to speak highly of what Eala means to Filipino tennis and how quickly she has made an impact.

He said: “She’s been the biggest ever tennis player from that country, which is a big country, and there’s a big interest. So things like that happen.

“You could argue that it was maybe a poor schedule and maybe they could schedule her on a bigger court.

“Again, it’s a good problem to have, to be honest. Let’s just imagine if there’s a lack of people coming or if the stands are empty, that’s a bigger problem. I mean, this is great.”

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