Alex Eala’s ability to lure huge crowds in tennis tournaments has been drawing comparisons to another Filipino sports icon, especially after her recent Australian Open campaign saw fans lining up under the scorching weather at Melbourne Park just to see her live.

Eala, 20, downplayed the comparison between her and boxing great Manny Pacquiao, despite a huge crowd from Filipinos both overseas and at home to watch her matches.

In her 6-0, 3-6, 2-6 loss to world No. 99 Alycia Parks at Court 6, Filipinos made up for most of the crowd, making it feel like home court for the Rafael Nadal Academy product.

“Oh my God, it’s not like that. I think Manny Pacquiao is different,” Eala said in a post-game conference.

“I remembered whenever Manny would fight, it felt like everybody was on vacation. Families would prepare lechon and popcorn. I think I’m not on that level yet.”

Even Eala herself would admit she is still getting used to fighting in front of a huge Filipino crowd.

“That’s one of the things that makes a loss like today a little bit harder — I know a lot of people were rooting for me,” said Eala, who will pocket P5.9 million for making it into the main draw of the Australian Open.

“It’s a process to take it all in. I think this week definitely there were elements that were a bit overwhelming, especially during my practices.”

Parks, 25, even admitted the Filipinos threw her off her game, especially when they cheered on her miscues, which led to a first-set bagel.

“It was very difficult. I was expecting it, but I also wasn’t. She definitely has a good crowd. I just kept telling myself to stay in the zone,” Parks said.

Ever since her breakout run at the Miami Open last March, Filipinos would make it a point to stay updated on Eala’s whereabouts.

Whether it be a Grand Slam or a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 125-level tournament, expect a horde of Filipinos to flock to the stadium to cheer their lungs out for Eala, who is considered as one of the hottest names in tennis today.

Even Australian tennis legend and former Australian Open deputy tournament director Peter Johnston noticed Eala’s ability to draw huge crowds back at the Hong Kong Open last October.

“She is a huge draw and a breakout star. When she was playing in Hong Kong in October, we had queues of more than 100 meters long from local Filipinos want to see her,” Johnston, told Fox Sports Australia.

Expect another huge crowd for Eala when she comes home for the Philippine Women’s Open from 26 to 31 January at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Joining her in protecting home court are wildcards Tennielle Madis of the national team and Kaye Emana of the University of Santo Tomas.

Bannering the Manila WTA tourney are world No. 38 Tatjana Maria of Germany, No. 64 Solana Sierra of Argentina, No. 72 Donna Vekic of Croatia,  No. 85 Lulu Sun of New Zealand and No. 87 Moyuka Uchijima of Japan.