Alex Eala owns just one career main-draw win at the US Open, yet international media already call her the Philippines’ biggest sporting star since Manny Pacquiao, and a traveling army of fans has descended on Flushing Meadows to watch her first-round opener this week.
The world is calling her the next Pacquiao
British broadcaster Sky Sports says the 21-year-old is quickly becoming the biggest thing to come out of the Philippines since legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao, carrying the hopes of a nation after her Washington Open title. The Guardian frames her as already a global star at a point in her career where the numbers are still catching up.
Here is how the coverage is describing the Eala wave:
- Sky Sports: “the biggest thing to come out of the Philippines since legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao.”
- The Guardian: “the Philippines’ biggest sporting star since Pacquiao… already a global star.”
- GMA: “an entire nation rallying behind the Filipina tennis star whenever she competes.”
A fanbase that packs the grounds
The support has spilled far beyond Manila. The Guardian describes a traveling army of fans flooding the courts, and Eala has been spotted practicing with Naomi Osaka on the Grandstand court. She has brushed off the hype with characteristic humility, telling reporters she is still “very, very far” from Pacquiao’s level, per GMA.
That level of devotion is a reminder of how deep her following runs: fans have already circled a December homecoming at the Philippine Arena, and her star power has caught Venus Williams’ eye.
Inside her US Open opener
Eala, the 17th seed, opens her campaign against American qualifier Mary Stoiana on Louis Armstrong Stadium, the tournament’s second-largest show court. The match is projected to go her way: Tennis.com’s model favors her heavily after she beat Stoiana in their only prior meeting back in 2024.
| Opener detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Opponent | Mary Stoiana, American qualifier |
| Court | Louis Armstrong Stadium, second-largest at Flushing Meadows |
| Seed | 17 |
| Head to head | Eala won their only meeting (Aug 2024) |
| Model projection | Tennis.com favors Eala |
Want the logistics before tune-in time? Here is how to watch her opener from the Philippines.
Why this run matters
A deep US Open run would be the crowning step in a breakout year: she won the Washington Open, and her homecoming clash with Janice Tjen in December is already billed as history in the making. The world’s attention is now fixed on Flushing Meadows to see whether the newest Filipino sporting superstar can turn the hype into a statement.
