LEYLAH Fernandez thinks Alex Eala is a “sweet girl, an amazing person,” but the Canadian tennis star is herself very charming and gracious.
Proof: she reads fan messages and engages with supporters, including Filipinos who adore her.
“I'm extremely honored that they follow me, that they cheer for me and that back in Manila, back in the Philippines, they introduce me as their own,” says Fernandez, whose mother is of Filipino descent.
READ Alex Eala returns to top form in familiar HK surroundings
“They send me messages on Instagram and I always greet them … I'm excited to see that, I'm super honored and I hope one of these days I can visit the Philippines and enjoy the culture at a deeper level.”
Both Fernandez, 23, and Eala, 20, are seeing action in the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open and have found time to bond together during the players' party before the start of the season-ending WTA 250 tournament.
“When I see her, we always talk a little bit. It helps that we are around the same age," Fernandez says. "Alex is a sweet girl, an amazing person, super kind.
“On court, the few times I've watched her play, I know she's fierce, she's very determined. She plays really beautifully.
“I'm also glad that she's a lefty, it's pretty cool.”
Fernandez and Eala could meet in the semifinals in Hong Kong, which would be a dream matchup for Filipino fans.
Fernandez, the second seed and a former Hong Kong Open winner, took a step closer to that dream date when she beat Germany's Eva Lys 6-4, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals. Eala faces a tougher challenge on Thursday against the powerful Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, who is seeded third.
“Alex is an amazing person, a great player,” Fernandez says. “I'm excited to see what the future holds for her.”
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