Eala overjoyed by UAE turnout

Wherever Alex Eala goes in the Middle East, it is a safe bet that a crowd is right behind her.

The 20-year-old Eala, who has caught the fancy not just of the Philippines but of the international tennis scene, has given her a tremendous feeling while on tour.

“It means a lot, it makes me feel at home even though I’m traveling so many weeks of the year,” Eala, rated No. 40 in the world, said.

Her inclusion in a bevy of tournament, has given Eala the opportunity to hone her skills in her drive to join the elite.

At press time, Eala is going up against world No. 39 Hailey Baptiste of the United States in the round of 64 of the Dubai Tennis Championships at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“I think this feeling is reciprocated for a lot of the Filipinos who are out here, I know there’s a huge population of them here in the Middle East. I think it means a lot for people to see themselves in other people and that’s what makes this so special.”

Dubai Tennis Championships tournament director Salah Tahlakeven said they acknowledge the huge Filipino community in Dubai as they back Eala in her quest in the prestigious Women’s Tennis Association 1000 tournament.

“We have 3,000 Filipino staff in Dubai Duty Free. I think it’s (Filipino population in the UAE) is close to one million,” Tahlakeven said.

“It’s a very big community. So it’s important because we are creating loyalty among fans. You create knowledge and awareness about the player, and they follow the player.”

Eala has been in the Middle East for the majority of February after taking part in the Abu Dhabi Open and the Qatar Open.

The Dubai tilt will be her final stop before flying to the United States for the BNP Paribas Open and the Miami Open in March.

With Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Iga Swiatek of Poland, the top two best players in the world, withdrawing from the Dubai tilt, Eala’s chances for winning her first WTA title increased.