Alexandra Eala Shares the Experience of Being a Famous Celebrity in Philippines

Alexandra Eala to face Iga Swiatek's conqueror Magda Linette in the third round of the Miami Open.

Alexandra Eala Shares the Experience of Being a Famous Celebrity in Philippines

Alexandra Eala (Image via X/CGTN Sports Scene)

In Short
  • Alexandra Eala advanced to the third round of the Miami Open after defeating Laura Siegemund.
  • She has gained significant commercial fame, becoming the first Asian woman since Li Na to be sponsored by Babolat.
  • Eala faces pressure to perform at Grand Slam events, having never advanced beyond the second round in her career.

Alexandra Eala returned to the Miami Open, the tournament where she first gained fame last year. She’s currently a global phenomenon and has been dubbed to transcend beyond sports in a way that tennis has never seen since Chinese legend Li Na. Eala is now in the third round of the Miami Open.

The Filipino star came from a set down to beat Germany’s Laura Siegemund 6(6)-7, 6-3, 6-3 to the delight of the roaring fans at the Hard Rock Stadium.

The packed stadium supported the teenage star throughout the match, which has now been dubbed the Alexandra Eala Effect. It began last year after her fairytale semi-final run at the Miami Open.

After the run, she climbed into the top 100 in the WTA rankings, and fans from all over the world have begun to follow her journey on tour. Currently, there’s a handful of rising female stars who are 20 or younger enjoying fame in the sport. They include Victoria Mboko, Iva Jovic, and Mirra Andreeva.

But none of them resonates with Eala’s tennis story and the kind of commercial fame she has enjoyed. Recently, Babolat, which is best known as the racket sponsor for top players in the circuit, including Carlos Alcaraz and Spanish legend Rafael Nadal, signed a deal with Eala. She’s the first Asian woman since Li Na to be sponsored by Babolat.

Former tennis players have warned that the popularity that Eala has gained might add pressure on her on tour. During her post-match press conference at the Miami Open, she noted that her fame on tour has been a little bit surprising, but she has gotten used to it in recent weeks:

It was a bit surprising, to be honest, because it’s hard to see yourself as ‘famous’ when you’ve always been just yourself. But once you get past that, you learn to really enjoy it because the atmosphere is very different when the stadium is full. It’s strange because being at home is the most normal thing in the world, right? But being famous at home, walking the streets, or going to the restaurants I’ve been to since I was a child, and suddenly people ask me for photos.

However, Eala’s major challenge is sustaining her enthusiasm while meeting fans’ expectations. The World No.29 has done well in several tournaments but not at Grand Slam events. She has never advanced beyond the second round of a major tournament. How much a player achieves in Grand Slam events is always the litmus test for a lasting legacy on tour.

Alexandra Eala opens up on how she defeated Laura Siegemund in the second round of the Miami Open

Going into the second round match at the Miami Open, Alexandra Eala had produced an astonishing run at the Indian Wells, where she reached the fourth round for the first time in her career. The World No.29 faced two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff in the third round and was leading the American star before she decided to retire.

Alexandra Eala (2)
Alexandra Eala (Image via Tennis Channel)

Her run at Indian Wells means that she has reached the fourth round of two WTA 1000 tournaments this season. However, facing Siegemund was a tough task for the Filipina player as both players went for every point. During the aforementioned press conference, Eala admitted that she had to be patient to be able to defeat the German:

I had to be patient! I think patience was key and waiting for the right moment. It took a lot of patience. I think just focusing on the next point. It could go either way so the tension never really releases and one point could change everything so I think kept me going. After every win, no, but this is a different ball game! This is not juniors and I often tell my team that every match for me is like life or death now.

Should Eala fail to win her third-round match, she will drop out of the top 40 in the WTA rankings. She was expected to face Iga Swiatek in the next round, but Magda Linette shockingly defeated the World No.3 in the second round. Eala will now face Linette for a place in the fourth round of the tournament.

Also Read: Elena Rybakina Gears Up for ‘One Last Push’ in Miami Amid ‘Brutal’ Schedule