Alex Eala humbled by rising fan assist, embraces accountability

: Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates her win following a girls’s singles match in opposition to Leylah Fernandez of Canada throughout day three of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2026 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Heart on July 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. Emilee Chinn/Getty Photographs/AFP

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala marveled on the rising assist she has acquired on the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, the place match organizers mentioned followers have flooded them with inquiries about her matches.

Match chairman Mark Ein mentioned the occasion has acquired an amazing variety of inquiries about Eala since asserting her participation final month.

READ: Alex Eala credit constant crowd assist to ‘being Filipino’

“Over the past month, the ticketing workforce says no less than 80%, if no more, of the requests on this match are about when is Alex Eala taking part in?” Ein mentioned in a narrative on the WTA web site.

“Whenever you take a look at the superb gamers right here and what number of nice stars there are, it says one thing about Alex’s following,” he added. “Earlier this 12 months, our workforce mentioned, this can be a phenomenon that’s spreading, and we must always attempt to get Alex to come back to Washington. Having her right here is truthfully one of many actually nice issues that’s already occurred this 12 months.”

The 21-year-old Eala, who superior to the quarterfinal after beating China’s Zheng Qinwen and Canada’s Leyla Fernandez, mentioned she was honored to study of her influence on tennis followers.

READ: Alex Eala ousts Leylah Fernandez to succeed in DC Open quarterfinals

“I feel it’s unbelievable. In fact, Washington, D.C. is a very large occasion, a very fashionable occasion. So, I imply, it makes me really feel liked, what can I say? And it makes it extra thrilling to play right here,” she mentioned.

Embracing the platform

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines speaks in a press convention following a girls’s singles match in opposition to Qinwen Zheng of China on day two of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2026 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Heart on July 28, 2026 in Washington, DC. Emilee Chinn/Getty Photographs/AFP 

As she continues to place the Philippines on the tennis map, Eala mentioned she stays conscious of the affect that comes along with her rising profile.

“I feel with the platform that I’ve, it’s essential for me to pay attention to the influence that I maintain additionally. And I discovered via bits and items of what individuals and the followers themselves inform me,” Eala mentioned.

READ: Alex Eala leaves PH feeling ‘prouder to symbolize house’

“And I perceive that I symbolize loads. I symbolize a minority. I’m the primary Filipina to sort of make it at this stage in tennis. And that doesn’t simply go for the Philippines essentially, however perhaps one other nationality or one other little lady who perhaps didn’t see a pathway earlier than that. I’m actually grateful for everybody who helps me. They’re the explanation I’ve this platform on the finish of the day. And it simply provides to how significant my job is to me. I do know that brings you nice pleasure.”

Coming into the Mubadala quarterfinal, Eala admitted that she additionally feels stress being a crowd favourite, however it’s all about conserving herself locked in in each match.

“There’s positively stress. I imply, I’m a aggressive athlete, so there’s stress. However I feel the duty additionally involves myself,” Eala mentioned.

“I’m a really self-demanding particular person. I’m a really formidable particular person. So I’m positively pleased and welcoming to everybody who desires to assist me as nicely and go alongside on this journey. However I do know that that is my journey at the start, and I’ve the expectations I’ve on myself. “