McEnroe: Eala deserves bigger U.S. Open stage

If the US Open wants to capitalize on Alex Eala’s star power, a former Grand Slam champion believes the Filipina sensation should be playing on its biggest courts.

In an interview with ESPN, Patrick McEnroe, a former world No. 3 and the 1989 French Open doubles champion, the 21-year-old Filipina’s enormous following makes her a perfect fit for Arthur Ashe Stadium, the biggest tennis venue at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

“The USTA better make sure they put her on big courts. In New York, I think the crowd is going to be wild for her,” McEnroe said, referring to the 23,771-seater facility that witnessed some of the greatest moments in professional tennis since it’s erection in 1997.

“It’s going to be a great story. Better make sure they don’t put her on one of those side courts early in the tournament.”

Eala got a taste of the Arthur Ashe Stadium atmosphere on Wednesday when she was spotted among the crowd watching 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer defeat 2003 US Open titlist Andy Roddick of the United States, 6-3, in an exhibition match.

It was her way of recharging after she and men’s world No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada saw their US Open mixed doubles campaign come to a quick end following a 1-4, 1-4 loss to tennis power couple Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and Gael Monfils of France in the Round of 16.

The concern over court assignment is not without basis.

During the Australian Open last January, Eala’s match against American Alycia Parks made headlines after a huge Filipino crowd trooped to Melbourne Park despite the match being scheduled on Court 6, which has a capacity of only around 1,500 spectators.

Even former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport believes tournament organizers must take Eala’s growing fan base into account when scheduling her matches.

“She probably needed to be on a bigger show court. She’s, I think, probably the most famous female from the Philippines, certainly one of the most famous people ever to come through the sporting world, and there were so many fans here who were just waiting to get in there,” Davenport said.

For now, Eala will have a few more days to prepare before the US Open main draw begins on Monday morning (Manila time).