Alex Eala’s growing influence is becoming just as noticeable as her rise up the Women’s Tennis Association rankings.

More tennis hotshots are taking notice of the 21-year-old Filipina not only for her skills on the court but also for the impact she is making in growing the sport and uniting Filipino fans wherever she plays.

World No. 4 and two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff said Eala is the type of player fans can easily support, especially after seeing how she has brought an entire nation together during her matches.

Eala is coming off a hard-fought 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory over world No. 70 Caty McNally of the United States in the Round of 32 of the Canadian Open on Saturday at the Sobeys Stadium in Toronto.

“I think that’s just so great that one player can really bridge the gap between like a sport and a nation that maybe hadn’t had that representation before. I mean, she’s an easy person to be a fan of too,” Gauff said.

“I don’t know, I love playing in environments like that. I had so much fun in Dubai, and would definitely like to play in another environment against her.”

Gauff and Eala could renew their rivalry in the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open should they survive their respective Round-of-16 assignments.

Eala will face world No. 14 Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, while Gauff takes on world No. 89 Alina Korneeva of Russia.

Eala has already beaten Gauff this year, scoring a stunning victory over the American at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells last March after Gauff defeated her in the Dubai Tennis Championships in February.

Eight-time Grand Slam champion Jimmy Connors also believes Eala’s growing fan base could become a major weapon as she continues her ascent toward the top of the sport.

The Filipina has enjoyed overwhelming support throughout her North American campaign, with Filipino fans turning out in huge numbers during her Washington Open title run last week and filling the 10,000-seat Sobeys Stadium for her matches.

Connors said that kind of support can give Eala an extra boost, especially when she finds herself in the biggest moments of a match.

“Let’s talk about her fan base and the success she has had and what she brings to the women’s game is pretty amazing. The breakthrough to win a 500, what is next on her list? 1000! She has that opportunity leading up to a Grand Slam,” Connors said in a podcast.

“We talk about confidence all the time and with that confidence and with the following like that, who show up to her matches and get behind her, I know what a crowd can do for you and how it can push you to levels of play that you never thought you could reach yourself. That little extra push sometimes wins matches for you.”

Eala has already made history this year by winning her maiden WTA title at the Washington Open, where she defeated world No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the final.

Now, with another deep run in Toronto within reach, the Filipina star is beginning to earn something even more valuable than victories — the belief of her peers that she can become one of the sport’s biggest stars.

Her next test comes against Bencic on Monday in the Round of 16.