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The Australian Open tennis championships are reaching the end of their first week, but the hottest ticket so far hasn’t been Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek or Aryna Sabalenka.
Instead, observers were stunned by the queues to watch the world number 49, Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. Her first-round match had been put on court number 6, leaving many fans disappointed as they were left unable to find a seat. Martina Navratilova was among those who criticised the decision, saying: “The organisers need to keep more in mind where the players are from and what the actual fan base is here.”
Inside the court, stands were filled with fans bearing Philippines flags, raucously cheering their 20-year-old hero. But though she took the first set 6-0, her opponent, Alycia Parks, eventually found her feet, taking the next two sets 6-3 6-2 to put Eala out at the first hurdle.
So where did Alexandra Eala come from, and how far can she go in the sport? And could her popularity spark a tennis boom back home?
Ben Rothenberg, editor of the tennis magazine Bounces, has called Alex Eala “the most popular player in tennis right now”. He talks to the BBC’s Ed Harry about how Eala was catapulted into the spotlight at the 2025 Miami Open, her roots in the game, and how far she could rise.
Kate Reyes, who has covered Alex Eala’s rise for the Filipino sport website Spin.ph, discusses why she has found such popularity with the public. She also shares her thoughts on what Eala’s success so far could mean for the future of the game in the Philippines.
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