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Filipino Tennis Star Draws Unprecedented Crowds at Aus Open
20 Jan
Summary
- Alexandra Eala drew massive crowds, unprecedented at the Australian Open.
- Eala's online conference viewership surpassed superstars like Alcaraz.
- Melbourne's large Filipino community fueled the enormous fan turnout.
The Australian Open witnessed an unprecedented surge in fan attendance, all drawn by the rising star Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. Thousands of fans created immense queues, overwhelming facilities and even impacting practice sessions.
Eala's popularity is immense in her home country, which has limited tennis pedigree. Her surprising victory over Iga Swiatek last year propelled her to national hero status, with her online press conference viewership exceeding that of major tennis stars.
Her performances at the tournament, including her singles debut, were met with massive support, particularly from Melbourne's large Filipino community. This led to criticisms regarding court assignments and crowd management by organizers, who acknowledged the need for future improvements.
Despite the fervent support, Eala's doubles match on Tuesday saw a more manageable, though still significant, crowd. The overwhelming enthusiasm of her fans, while sometimes criticized for being boisterous, stems from pride in her historic achievements for Philippine tennis.
