DESPITE the noise from the sea of Filipino fans who flooded Melbourne Park for Alex Eala’s debut in the Australian Open main draw, Novak Djokovic chose to hear the cheers and not the complaints.
Earlier in the week, the 20 year old Filipina world No. 49 turned heads as she drew overflowing crowds that stretched into long queues outside Court 6 of Melbourne Park for her opening match against American Alycia Parks.
COLUMN: Can a good thing also be a bad thing?
Many of her supporters were new to the Grand Slam stage, bringing fresh energy, loud support, and yes, behavior that may need a crash course on tennis etiquette.
Eala’s campaign ended early with first round exits in both singles and doubles, but her impact lingered long after the final ball. She did not just sell tickets. She sparked conversations, packed stands, and lit up timelines.
Opinions both pro and against poured in, not only on the fans' behavior but also on the organizers' short-sighted decision to put Eala's match in a smaller court. But one voice stood out above the chatter. World No. 4 Novak Djokovic's.
“I saw the other day with Alex Eala, that’s been a talk which is understandable,” Djokovic said during his post-match press conference on Friday. “She’s coming from the Philippines which is now a big deal. She’s the biggest tennis player from that counrty, and It’s a big country, and there’s big interest.”
Djokovic, a former world No. 1 and now through to the third round in her quest for an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title, found himself drawn into the discussion, too. Unlike the others, he saw no problem worth sweating over.
For him, the issue was simple. A packed house beats an empty one every time.
“You could argue maybe it’s a poor schedule and she could play on a bigger court,” said the owner of a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles. “But she’s so young, just coming through. First couple rounds are packed big courts with big names. It’s not easy to manage that.”
Then came the punchline.
“But it’s a good problem to have. Imagine if there's a lack in people coming or the stands were empty," he added.
In a tournament that thrives on buzz, Eala brought just that. And if Djokovic’s take is any indication, tennis might be more than ready for the it, anyway.
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