FORGET tennis and the world rankings, those change from week to week, depending on who's playing and where.
For her historic accomplishments on the court and a charismatic personality that is filling stadium seats around the world with new fans, don't be surprised to find Alex Eala on many 'most influential' lists from prestigious institutions by yearend.
From Melbourne to the Middle East, from Wimbledon to Washington DC and, now, Toronto - these traditional stops on the tennis calendar have been turned into Little Quiapo by passionate, flag-waving Filipino fans who can't get enough of their fresh-faced heroine. The atmosphere and the emotion is such that when Alex is playing, even a first-round match suddenly starts to look a lot like the final of a Grand Slam.
EXPLAINER: Why DC Open title is only Alex Eala's first on WTA tour
Opposing players have surely taken notice of the phenomenon, and so do broadcasters and pundits who are no strangers to tennis royalty like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams and the loyal following they inspire. Organizers are just too happy to have Alex on their courts, with all the excitement and attention that brings.
It's a good thing that on the court, Alex continues to deliver.
But together with her successes come sky-high expectations, especially in the wake of her history-making WTA Tour victory at the Mudabala DC Open.
From predicting it's the first of many WTA Tour wins to believing a Grand Slam title is in her future, the expectations are enormous and, to a lesser mortal, probably intimidating. Not to Alex.
There is no sign that the Alex Eala bandwagon is slowing down.
Despite little rest, following the rain-hit DC Open final that stretched to two days, the young Filipina fought off a strong challenge from Alycia Parks in her Toronto debut.
Alex is proving she is not intimidated by the burden of expectations. Rather than shrink from the challenge, she dives right into it with the same quickness and the fluidity she attacks an opponent's big serve. No fear, just pure conviction.
A tournament victory is a confidence boost, it frees one of any lingering self-doubt and unlocks the door to more success. The knowledge that Alex can get it done - and how - is a tremendous asset to have. Just as much as a big serve or a powerful, well-placed return.
But even before her triumph against Jessica Pegula in Monday's final, Alex already was brimming with the confidence of a champion - win or lose, she knew she'd get other opportunities. Prior to that, her results and performances have been trending upwards. Those include Wimbledon, where Alex made history by reaching the Round of 16.
READ What Alex Eala gained after her maiden WTA Tour title at DC Open
Her mindset is something our athletes can emulate. Timidity is not for her - her aggressive game can attest to that. But neither is she arrogant; in fact, it's the complete opposite.
There are too many things that keep her "grounded" amid the noise around her, she says. "When I wake up in the morning and I have bad hair, it keeps me gounded," she confesses to an interviewer.
Alex goes into matches confident she can win because she has put in the hard work behind the scenes; she has done her homework with the diligence and resourcefulness of the class geek.
At 21 she has become an elite returner of serve, quick of mind and light on her feet. She has also settled comfortably into the life of a touring professional at the highest level of the sport.
True, her lefty serve is a work in progress, but it can bother the likes of Pegula and Iga Swiatek to the point that they sometimes lose their minds trying to deal with it. And then there's her forehand: it is locked and loaded, ready to fire at the slightest opportunity.
And so the ride of a lifetime continues.
How far can Alex go? Is a Grand Slam title in play?
If Alex can stay healthy and committed to her training regimen, and the gods of tennis look kindly on her, she will always be in the mix.
But remember this: what she has already accomplished is beyond anything a Filipino tennis player has achieved. Until Alex came along, we never imagined something as magical as this is possible. So anything else that follows is a bonus.
The exciting part? As far as Alex's career is concerned, nasa first set pa lang tayo.
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