ALEXANDRA “ALEX” EALA will play for more than herself in the US Open.
Stepping on the brightest stage yet of her blooming career, the 21-year-old Filipina will carry the hope of an entire nation with her in the season’s final Grand Slam.
The US Open kickstarts on Monday at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center but the crowd darling Ms. Eala will not play until Wednesday (Manila time) at the Louis Armstrong Stadium according to the official schedule and court assignment released on Sunday.
Ms. Eala, seen as the world tennis poster girl today, will be up against a home bet qualifier Mary Stoiana, WTA No. 122 and former US NCAA MVP who picked up three wins in the qualifying round to gain her first-ever Grand Slam main draw.
And like every city Ms. Eala has played in so far, a legion of Filipino fans is tipped to dominate the 14,000-seater stadium, the second-biggest venue in the Big Apple next only to the grand Arthur Ashe Stadium where Ms. Eala debuted in the Stars of the Open exhibition match last week.
“I understand the importance of what and who I represent along with the (Filipino) values and the culture I carry on court,” said Ms. Eala on Served with Andy Roddick podcast ahead of her highly-anticipated US Open return.
“It’s very important for me to understand that it’s the Filipino culture that’s important. It’s what I represent that’s important and not just me as an individual. The reason why I have a big following is because people see themselves in me.”
Ms. Eala will march into the Big Apple with an all-time high confidence and momentum after reaching a new high in almost every metric.
A new career-best world ranking (No. 18), new career-best seeding in any Grand Slam (No. 17), a special customized blue-themed Nike jersey in honor of the Philippine flag, new covers on Sports Illustrated and Forbes among the few, and new motivation from fellow Philippine sport flag-bearers led by compatriot Jordan Clarkson of the New York Knicks in the NBA.
Ms. Eala, who was crowded with fans even in practice sessions, will also enjoy triple the support from last year when she debuted as then-world No. 75 in the US Open to become the first Filipina match winner in any major main draw after a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) stunner on then-world No. 15 Clara Tauson of Denmark.
“I think at the forefront of everything is gratitude. I’m very thankful for the support that my fans and supporters give me, but in terms of contributions to the world of tennis and history, I think I’m just a drop in the ocean,” said Ms. Eala on the pre-US Open press conference.
Last month, Ms. Eala, as the No. 29 seed, had a magical Round of 16 run in Wimbledon followed by a breakthrough WTA Tour title conquest in Washington, D.C. that served as her stepping stone to barging inside the world’s elite of the elite.
Surpassing it in the US Open is the ultimate goal or going through all the way, come hell or high water at the jaws of a gauntlet should she take care of business against the 23-year-old Ms. Stoiana tentatively at 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday.
Projected to stand in her way down the road of a stacked bottom half of the bracket are No. 14 Iva Jovic, No. 4 Coco Gauff, No. 5 Mirra Andreeva and No. 2 Elena Rybakina with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka headlining the upper half of the 128-woman field.
“That really keeps me humble, motivated and wanting to work harder to stay among these incredible people,” vowed Ms. Eala, who revved up for the biggest Slam of her career with a debut in the mixed doubles (with ATP No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada) and a friendly tiff against her good friend Ms. Jovic.
And she got to play with her dad, Michael, on court, too as an extra fuel for a battle bigger than herself before representing the country in the Asian Games this month in Achi and Nagoya, Japan. — John Bryan Ulanday