Two days after her victory photo grabbed the upper-half-page treatment by the globally-known newspaper, The WASHINGTON POST, following her breakthrough triumph in the ATP 500 DC tournament in the United States capital, Alex Eala flew to Toronto for her next tour stop.
In Toronto, the biggest city in Canada, she became the talk of the town even days before she flew in as inquiries in her schedule in the National Open flooded organizers and tickets were sold out 30 minutes after they were opened.
They call it the Eala Mania, a following which started to bloom after her remarkable run in the 2025 Miami Open.
Nobody must have thought before on the sports power of the Filipino diaspora, which analysts describe now as a tennis movement, similar to the following of concert performers.
Like Manny Pacquiao, Eala draws a huge crowd. The difference is while professional boxers see action three times a year in the average, the tennis pro player schedule could run as many as 20-25 a year, thus actual fan following is far and more frequent.
That tennis-watching diaspora crowd gained momentum since her Miami breakthrough, which included stops in Dubai, Rome, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Berlin, Auckland, Melbourne, Paris, London, New York, as well as in Birmingham (UK) and Guadalajara (Mexico), where she took the titles.
Toronto tournament director Karl Hale confirmed in media reports that attendance in the matches of the “tournament newbie” (it’s her first time to play in the Toronto Open) has defied assumptions that the size is expected only when a Top Five player takes the court. Her matches have been scheduled at the 10,000+-seater Sobeys Stadium to accommodate her fans.
***
Filipinos in Canada total nearly one million — representing about 2.1% of the population. They are the fourth biggest ethnic group in the country, where tennis is not really as popular as their favorite sports — ice hockey, soccer, Canadian football, basketball and baseball.
For Filipinos there, the list includes basketball, boxing, volleyball, soccer and ice hockey.
***
The public Canada Broadcasting Corporation described the atmosphere during Eala’s games as more like a football match than a tennis game, apparently because of the crowd support for her by flag-waving Filipinos.
The ruckus in her matches by her fan base in the tour has been criticized but a number of those in the industry, like Caty McNally, whom she defeated in the Round of 32 in Toronto this week, looks at the crowd support from another viewpoint. A report said she praised — after her three-set loss to Alex in the Round of 32 — the roaring Filipino crowd and described the atmosphere as “absolutely electrifying” and “unforgettable.”
Among her followers is American tennis legend Andy Roddick, who said in his podcast: “Everyone in tennis should be cheering for her. She’s literally carrying hundreds of millions of fans to our sport…”
Other tennis standouts gave their views.
Former No. 1 player Serena Williams called her a “world star” and also described her an “incredible person, well-spoken, and just an impressive young lady”.
Past tennis queens consider her “a new craze” (Martina Navratilova) and “an inspiration for kids” (Billie Jean King).
Regardless of the outcome of her round of 16 march against Swiss player Belinda Bencic, Alex’s run in Toronto will be long remembered by tournament officials (Hale called her “an absolute blessing to tennis”) and to her overseas Filipino fan base, especially — as one player who created long queues, conversations and a reminder of home and their love of country.
The effect of the Alex mania on the world tennis management? The CBC report sums it up: “Tournament directors are now scheduling for her, opponents are game planning for her crowd…”
Let’s wait and see what happens in her next stop in Cincinnati (Aug. 13-23).
***
Thanks to former media colleagues Daydine Alcalde, a past Bombo reporter and my student then at UNO-R MassComm, and Daily Star colleague Odette Montelibano for the Toronto Open updates and sidelights.
Daydine and Odette, who sent me the CBC video feature focused on Alex, have been living in Toronto for more than 20 years.
Daydine confirmed that Eala’s matches have been assigned only to Sobeys as the grandstand and other areas cannot accommodate the huge crowd that comes to watch her play.
She learned from friends who watched Alex play that stadium stewards, whose duties include the enforcement of ground regulations and address provided behavior, apparently could not control the noise of Alex’s fan base. Apparently, organizers can’t complain much, because the fans ensure ticket sell-out, her friends added.
Most Fil-Canadian fans of Alex are newbies in professional tennis play who may not be familiar with tennis decorum that instead of just clapping, they cheers and even shout at times, prompting the stewards to take necessary action.
One of Daydine’s friend, Marfe Dellomes, a native of Dumangas, Iloilo and a sleep clinic worker, the stadium gets louder when Filipinos are there. The crowd is usually quiet, which rarely erupts — only when they see a good play — but not when the Filipinos are there, said Marfe, who admits she became a pro tennis fan because of Eala.
“It’s so much fun watching the game live than in TV, especially when Filipinos start chanting, Go Alex, go… (someone even shouted, adding a line to rhyme, ‘lulutuan kita mamaya adobo!’),” Marfe further said.
Her parents must be incredibly proud of her, Marfe said, adding, ‘I can’t help but wish I have a daughter like Alex. Kanami man siguro sang feeling.”
***
The Eala journey in Toronto comes in time for two Filipino festivities in the city — the Taste of Manila on Aug. 15-16 and Mabuhay Philippines Festival in downtown Toronto on Aug. 22-23.
Daydine said the Aug. 15-16 event at the Filipino Town is one of the biggest food festivals in Toronto. It will at held Bathurst and Wilson Streets, a 10-minute drive from Daydine’s place. The area will be partially closed to accommodate displays of various Philippine products and Filipino cuisine.
Nearby is East Bales Park, where a Rizal monument stands, a vital cultural landmark for the local Filipino community.
Daydine said the bigger event next week will be held in the heart of the city. It will feature, among others, a concert and a shoe featuring Philippine entertainment personalities.
***
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33) | NWI
