Darling of the crowd: Eala overjoyed by PWO’s massive turnout

Alex Eala swears the terrific turnout in the ongoing Philippine Women’s Open (PWO) has made her even more motivated to produce positive results.

“I hope they are just as motivated as me to watch tennis as I am to play tennis,” said Eala, who is battling Colombian Camila Osorio at press time for a seat in the semifinal round at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

“I think we’ve had a lot of really good matches. I’m so happy with so many people that have turned out. Despite the rain and the heat, you’re still here.”

Eala, 20, said feeling the love from the fans has pulped her up as she pursues her second Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) crown after her triumph at the Guadalajara 125 Open in Mexico last September.

But as she gets closer to the prestigious WTA 125 crown, the Rafael Nadal Academy alumnus is starting to feel a bit of pressure.

“I feel good; I feel great that I’m at this stage right now. Obviously, the two wins — it feels good to have these two wins at home,” said Eala.

“The expectations are still the same, and my goals are still the same, which is to do well in the next match. People were excited, but when I’m in those moments, I’m really just alone on the court.

So far, Eala has won over world No. 163 Alina Charaeva of Russia, 6-1, 6-2, in the Round of 32 and dispatched No. 140 Himeno Sakatsume of Japan, 6-4, 6-0 in the Last 16.

More than the wins, Eala said she hopes she was able to energize the crowd with high-octane action inside the hard court.

Ranked No. 49 in the WTA rankings, Eala said consistency is something she constantly strives for while traveling around the world.

“I think consistency is something difficult when you’re on tour and you’re facing so many of these players. I think you definitely have moments where you’re playing better,” Eala said on Wednesday after her win over Sakatsume.

“I think that’s what makes the greats great: You’re able to show up time and time again. I’m learning how to do that.”

Regardless of what happens in her campaign in the event which is backed by both the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Lawn Tennis Association, Eala will have a busy 2026.

Following her Manila appearance, Eala will head to the United Arab Emirates for the Abu Dhabi Open this weekend before trying her luck in the star-studded Miami Open in Florida in March, the same competition where she made a statement last year by beating three Grand Slam champions.

Eala is likewise expected to join the next three Grand Slams, the French Open, Wimbledon Championships and the US Open following her meteoric rise.

Despite her immense popularity, Eala feels she remains cool, calm and collected as she only listens to her team.

“They work in my best interest. They also give me positive feedback so that’s,  of course, along with my own opinion and the opinion of my team is what I prioritize,” Eala said.

“They definitely give me two sides and I know that they have my best interest at heart.”