AT this point, what’s happening around Alex Eala’s matches is becoming just as noticeable as what’s happening on the court.
From the sea of Philippine flags and the big numbers online, to the growing Southeast Asian presence in the Tour, she believes the surge of new fans in tennis is not coming from one player alone, but from the sport finally expanding in places where it, historically, was not ‘as big.’
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“I love that it’s not just myself bringing in different and new demographics into the audience,” Eala said after her win at the BNP Paribas Open.
The 20-year-old pointed to a simple idea: grow the sport where it has not traditionally thrived.
“I think one of the ways is for the tennis community to develop the sport in countries where tennis is not as big as other sports,” she explained.
Eala used the Philippines as an example.
In recent years, she has seen tennis gain momentum back home, something she believes fuels the passionate support that now follows her around the tour.
Earlier in the year, Manila also hosted its first WTA event in the WTA125 Philippine Women’s Open with tickets sold out from start to finish.
“Speaking from my experience, tennis has grown so much in my country,” she said. “People are developing a genuine interest in the sport.”
The phenomenon is happening across regions as well. Eala noted how representation on tour naturally draws in new fans.
At the Australian Open earlier this year, four women from Southeast Asia reached the main draw —a rare sight that sparked wider regional interest.
Those girls were Janice Tjen of Indonesia WTA no. 39, Thailand’s Lanlana Tararudee, WTA no. 124, Mananchaya Sawangkaw, WTA no. 202.
“When you see players from different countries competing, people from those places start following the sport,” she said.
She also pointed to fellow players like Zeynep Sonmez, who has drawn growing Turkish and Middle Eastern support on tour.
For Eala, the formula is simple: representation creates curiosity, and curiosity builds fandom.
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