CROWD-PULLER EALA BRUSHES OFF PACQUIAO COMPARISONS: 'IBANG LEVEL NAMAN SIYA'

MANILA, Philippines — To put it plainly, Alex Eala is one of the most popular Filipino athletes right now.

Eala, currently the World No. 49 tennister, draws huge crowds whenever she plays. Filipino fans constantly cheer for her, to the point where the umpire usually reminds the crowd not to cheer loudly when the ball is in play.

Some may compare this kind of superstar treatment to the one and only Manny Pacquiao, but the Filipina tennis ace begs to differ.

Following her first-round loss in the Australian Open Monday, Eala said she thinks she’s still “far” from the status of the only eight-division world champion.

"Oh, my God. Hindi naman ganoon. Iba naman si Manny Pacquiao,” Eala told reporters during a press conference on Monday.

During the heyday of Pacquiao, police report low to zero crime rate during his matches.

“Nasa ibang level na siya. I mean, naaalala ko pag may laban si Manny talagang parang bakasyon yung mga tao, hindi pumapasok. And then, and then yung buong pamilya nasa bahay, may lechon, may popcorn,” she added.

“So, sa tingin ko, medyo malayo pa ako.”

Eala flung up the rankings last year, when she had a spirited run in the Miami Open that put the whole world on notice. In that run, she defeated big names Katie Volynets, Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, Iga Swiatek before falling against Jessica Pegula.

Since then, Eala has made strides in the tennis world, making history after history, becoming the first Filipina tennister in the open era to play in Grand Slam tournaments.

Still, Eala, who bowed out of the Australian Open’s singles’ action after absorbing a tough three-set defeat at the hands of Alycia Parks, 6-0, 3-6, 2-6, voiced gratitude with the support she gets from the crowds.

“Yeah, it was so heartwarming and I think that's one of the things that makes a loss like today a little bit harder is that I know a lot of people were rooting for me, but then again, Alycia played really well and you know, I just hope that the support continues with the losses along with the wins,” she said.

“I think that would really touch me. But then again, just the fact that everyone came out and really squeezed into that cozy court. I really appreciate it. I felt so loved even when I was 5-2 down in the third, you know, still felt the love. So I'm really appreciative and super thankful.”

Eala, who also won a Southeast Asian Games gold medal last month, said she wants to inspire more children not just to play tennis, but also the Filipino resiliency.

“Yung gusto ko sanang kunin nila or yung makita nila sa akin is yung lalaban hanggang dulo. More than yung serve ko or kung paano ako gumalaw or paano ako pumapalo, yung laban talaga, yung nakikita sa mga Pinoy, feeling ko, yan talaga yung characteristic na unique sa Pinoy,” she said.

“Kinukuha ko yung lakas ko lumaban sa pagmamahal ko sa tenis. Mahal ko talaga yung tenis. Mahal ko yung tunog ng bola. Mahal ko kapag super tight na yung match tapos important point. Madami ako natutunan sa tennis at malaking bahagi ng buhay ko. Kaya yan talaga yung nagpapatuloy sa akin at yung pamilya ko.”

While she bowed out of the Australian Open’s singles’ action, Eala will still compete in the doubles’ division. She is partnered with Ingrid Martins and will take on Magda Linette and Shuko Aoyama on Tuesday.

2026-01-20T07:31:23Z