Eala Keeps The Momentum Going, Gears Up For US Soil Return

As the WTA Middle East swing has concluded, let’s look at some of the great storylines that the global audience has witnessed.

Of course, the biggest story of this year’s 3-week stretch of the WTA or Women’s Tennis Association’s tournaments in the GCC is our very own Alex Eala.

The Filipino tennis icon played in all 3 tournaments in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai – posting quarterfinal finishes in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai which are all WTA 1000 tier events – tournaments that are just a notch lower than grand slams. It’s also worth mentioning Eala significantly added another win over a top 10 player in Dubai—the Italian Jasmine Paolini who was ranked world number 7 at that time.

But beyond these achievements our very own tennis star continues to add to her portfolio, with the bigger story, the frenzy over watching Eala live on the courts. The number of fans trooping into her matches have been unstoppable and continue to pour in.

Alex Eala announced herself to the world in March of last year when at the Miami Open, she remarkably posted wins over grand slam champions – two of them top 10 players at that time including world number 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland.

That started the buzz over the Filipino tennis star that carried over the grass season as she reached the finals of Eastbourne open--- the first Filipino to have ever done so and followed it up with a main draw grand slam match at Wimbledon’s centre court opposite the reigning champion Czechia’s Barbora Krajcikova. In this match, Eala won the opening set but bowed down after 3 sets.

The momentum continued into the US Open where Eala notably won her opening match to the delight of the audience—not just on the courts but worldwide.

Early this year, Alex Eala reached the semifinals of the ASB Classic in Auckland and the quarters in the inaugural Philippine Tennis Open. But the real buzz began when she played at the first grand slam of the season where thousands of fans queued to watch but were unable to get in as the match was on a smaller court number 6. Multiple grand slam champion and tennis legend Martina Navratilova commented about the “massive Filipino audience in Melbourne, in Australia so keep in mind next time you make schedule”.

And the numbers continue to stack up with packed centre court stadiums this year in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai.

In an interview on ARN’s Dubai Eye 103.8 with Dubai Duty Free’s top executive Ramesh Cidambi, he was ecstatic to share what Alex Eala presence has done for this year’s tournament.. “She drove the ticket sales 35% more than last year for the week. The Filipino community in Dubai came out in droves and she filled up the stadium on Sunday; she Filled up the stadium on Wednesday and she filled up the stadium on Thursday and big thank you to her for the person that she is and increasing the popularity of tennis in the Philippines.” Cidambi added “To have 4,500 (or) 5,000 people on (the) court is tremendous, she made the week one, the women’s week a success for us”.

American players Coco Gauff and the tournament’s champion Jessica Pegula both echo Ramesh Cidambi’s words saying “Alex Eala is doing something good for the sport”.

The Philippine Consulate of Dubai and Northern Emirates’ Consul General Ambrosio Brian Enciso has also offered his proud remarks for the global pinay tennis icon citing “Each match sharpened her competence and built momentum toward even greater milestones. We wish her continued success as she carries the Philippine flag with distinction on the international stage.”

Eala meanwhile is back to the drawing board to work on areas in her game and fitness that needs improvement as she prepares defending her points at Miami Open.

She leaves the Middle East swing with a new career high ranking of world number 31.

Meanwhile, the Filipino tennis star moves to the third round of Indian Wells—- a WTA 1000 Premier Mandatory tournament after defeating Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska in three sets 7-5 6-4 7-5.