'Tennis goddess' era has changed! 21-year-old Asian racket girl "even Venus would fall for her"... aiming for a record-breaking 50,000 spectators

*This content was translated by AI.

Filipino tennis player Alex Eala (21) has emerged as the new box-office guarantee in the global tennis world. She currently boasts 120 million fans and is aiming to become "the player who competes before the largest audience in history."

The UK's The Sun reported on the 2nd (Korea time) that "Eala has established herself as the most popular tennis player in the world today."

Although she is only in her fourth year since turning professional, Eala enjoys unparalleled popularity. Filipino communities flock to every venue where she competes, organizing large-scale cheering events. Millions across the Philippines, including Quezon City, her hometown, watch her matches on television. The media noted that "Venus Williams offered to be her doubles partner twice this summer precisely because of such immense influence."

She has also proven her skills. In July, she advanced to the fourth round at Wimbledon, boosting her global recognition. Last month, at the Washington Open final, she defeated Jessica Pegula (USA) to claim her first WTA Tour title. At last year's US Open, she overcame Clara Tauson (Denmark) in a tight match, becoming the first Filipino player in the Open Era to win a main-draw singles match at a major tournament.

Eala began playing tennis at age four and trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain. She made her WTA Tour debut after competing in the Miami Open qualifiers in 2021. Her mother, Lisa Maniego Eala, was a professional swimmer who represented the Philippines at the 1985 Southeast Asian Games and served as chief financial officer (CFO) of Globe Telecom, the Philippines' largest telecommunications company, until two years ago.

Despite the overwhelming attention, Eala has remained humble. She said, "I am always grateful for the fans' support," while adding, "While media attention has helped me stand out, compared to tennis history, I am merely a single drop in the ocean." She further stated, "As I travel on tour, I am learning the professional ethics of other top players. It is a great fortune to experience facing strong opponents in packed stadiums like at last year's US Open."

On December 8, she will play an exhibition match against Indonesia's Janice Chen at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, her home country. The organizers plan to mobilize over 52,000 spectators to break the all-time tennis attendance record of 51,954 set by Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal in Cape Town. Eala remarked, "99% of my matches so far have been held abroad. It is extremely special and exciting to compete in front of fans from my homeland."

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*This content was translated by AI.