Alex Eala burning up court in Toronto and wowing fans in Philippines

There is no more coveted ticket in Toronto right now than trying to get one to see the newest international star

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When tennis players get Alexandra Eala in a draw, they don’t just have to play the sport’s emerging superstar but the whole country of the Philippines too!

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And it’s large international diaspora.

That racket you may be hearing coming from Sobeys Stadium at 1 Shoreham Drive on the York University campus in North York can also be heard all the way over in the Philippines and amongst tennis fans around the world.

The cheering fandemonium inside the stadium and outside is not just loud. It’s thunderous. Move over Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Scottie Barnes, Vladdy Guerrero Jr., and Auston Matthews because the hottest star in town is not only holding court but filling up the stadium.

There is no more coveted ticket in Toronto right now than trying to get one to see newest international star Eala!

Not only is her third-round match Friday night at the National Bank Open with American Caty McNally sold out, everywhere the tennis sensation who simply goes by Alex goes there’s a crowd, cameras and cheering.

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The pride of the Philippines has brought to Toronto what the aforementioned stars have done before her: Excitement. And she’s also brought out her fellow Filipinos by the thousands — whether it be at Wimbledon, Australia or Washington this past weekend when she won her first WTA tournament in dramatic style, or here for Canada’s national women’s open.

Plenty of fans

From President Ferdinand (BongBong) Marcos Jr. to Manny Pacquaio to every Filipino everywhere, the Philippines is with their beloved tennis icon. The pride of Quezon City, who trained at Rafa Nadal’s tennis academy in Spain, Eala is a phenomenon and is phenomenal — on and off the court.

The pictures and videos of her on social media celebrating in America’s capital city with her trophy are epic and inspiring. It’s the stuff of movies. She’s like boxing legend Pacquaio and Journey singer Arnel Pineda in that she brings an all or nothing effort every time out and carries the weight and pride of her beloved country on her shoulders with such grace and class.

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And she’s only 21.

Much more to come. Her first time in Toronto will certainly not be her last. Her talent will ensure that. Her GTA fans will insist upon it.

None of her success is a surprise to me. I have been following her tennis for two years and knew it was only a matter of time before she would win a tournament — which she did by beating Buffalo’s own and third in world ranked Jessica Pegula.

Eala has defeated all of the top seeds and is now considered the 25th ranked player in the world — with a bullet. If she can keep advancing in this esteemed Canadian tournament and get to the finals, she does not only win but women’s tennis does as well.

Filipinos have been celebrating Alex Eala everywhere in the world she goes. But her fan base goes way behind her home country in that she plays an aggressive style of tennis, hits a mean left-handed return without pouts, moans or complaints.

Eala never forgets where she came from

And she never quits. She can be down in sets but in true Filipino grit style, she will never throw in the white towel in any match she’s in. She also never forgets where she comes from and who helped get her here. In both Tagalog and English, she addresses her travelling Filipino fan base every time and seems as proud of all of them for coming out to see tennis as they are proud to see her excelling at it.

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These fans are amazing and help bring some life to sometimes stodgy tennis. Like the fans in the iconic Adam Sandler Happy Gilmore movie, they don’t follow the traditional Marquess of Queensberry rules and treat Eala’s time on the court like part Pacquaio title fight and part rock concert.

It’s electric. It’s fantastic. It’s fun. And Eala not only feeds off it but seems to bask in it and soak in the energy of it. It’s certainly not easy for her opponents, who sometimes find what they thought should be a home crowd is actually all-in on Eala.

“There are so many Filipinos in the crowd tonight. So many flags. Thank you,” an ecstatic Eala said Wednesday over loud cheers after his first win in Toronto. “I am eternally grateful. I just came off Washington so I really feel like this is a celebration.”

Every day seems to be a celebration for Alex Eala.

If she keeps winning and ends up in the final pairing this weekend, it won’t just be her Filipino Canadian fans celebrating but all of women’s tennis too.

jwarmington@postmedia.com

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