The Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) is more than prepared when Alex Eala steps onto the court on Monday for the Philippine Women’s Open (PWO) at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. Philta executive director Tonnette Mendoza told DAILY TRIBUNE they have made sure both fans and players will be safe while the country’s first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tournament gets underway.

The 20-year-old Eala has been the talk of the town as Filipino fans filled up Court 6 at the Australian Open in Melbourne last week.

“We have made sure to have extra security measures in Rizal Memorial. Everybody entering will be either ticketed or accredited,“ Mendoza said.

“We don’t want a stampede to happen so we are doing our best to tighten our security.”

Mendoza also said the Rizal Memorial Coliseum will be used for fan watches to make sure those who won’t be able to get into the tennis center will be able to enjoy the action.

“There is a fan zone installed inside the Rizal Memorial Stadium. A screen will be placed as early as the semifinal,” Mendoza said.

Eala is expected to draw huge numbers once again as she is in the main draw as a wildcard. The Rafael Nadal Academy graduate is also in pursuit of her second WTA crown after winning the Guadalajara 125 Open in Mexico last September.