Filipino tennis star Alex Eala riding a wave of popularity into Toronto tournament
Filipino tennis player Alex Eala is experiencing a surge in popularity as she prepares for the National Bank Open in Toronto. Following her historic WTA title win in Washington, D.C., she has become a significant draw for tennis fans globally.
Why it matters
Eala's rise highlights the growing influence of international athletes in expanding the global reach and fan engagement of professional tennis.
The moment Eala's appearance was announced — a second round Wednesday night match — seats sold out within 30 minutes, according to Karl Hale, tournament director for the NBO, Canada's biggest tennis tournament and one of the most prestigious on the WTA tour.
"We've never seen a player ranked outside the top five have this type of effect," Hale said. "I think her fans were specifically waiting to see when she played."
The WTA tour is a gruelling season of more than 50 tournaments across dozens of countries, spanning multiple continents. And with every appearance, Eala's fans seem to find her.
"All the tournament directors are talking about it, everybody in the industry is talking about it," said Hale.
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