Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<p>Alex Eala has expressed her gratitude for the strong and growing Filipino presence supporting her during the Australian Swing, saying the warm reception has made her feel right at home as she competes on one of tennis’ biggest stages.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2012073040197079071&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-01-16T10%3A48%3A12.918580%3A39746c81-07d5-4a0d-95d1-0b7c36371ab6%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=ebba5a47e598c9817d9c47b416786a0d9b0b4e89&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:503px;height:550px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2012073040197079071"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>The Australian Open featured the Filipina star on its official social media pages, posting a video where Eala spoke about the overwhelming support she has received from fans in Melbourne and across Australia.</p><p>“It was amazing. It’s been amazing. In this part of the world, there are a lot of Filipinos. But the turnout this year has grown significantly I would say from the past years, so I’m so happy to see this environment,” she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/1/16/tennis-alex-eala-claims-evonne-goolagong-cawley-trophy-in-kooyong-classic-1544"><strong>READ: Tennis: Alex Eala claims Evonne Goolagong Cawley Trophy in Kooyong Classic</strong><br/></a></div><p>“People are excited. When I’m on court, they’re excited to see me. It’s flattering and it makes me feel welcome for sure,” Eala shared.</p><p>The World No. 49 has become one of the most visible Filipino athletes on the global tennis stage, and her rise has been mirrored by an increasing number of fans turning up courtside, waving Philippine flags and cheering her on throughout her matches.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/1/16/alex-eala-carlos-yulo-to-be-recognized-psa-co-athletes-of-the-year-1450"><strong>READ: Alex Eala, Carlos Yulo to be recognized PSA co-Athletes of the Year</strong></a></div><p>Eala is set to carry that momentum into her Australian Open main-draw debut on Sunday, when she faces American Alycia Parks. The match will mark Eala’s first WTA Tour meeting against Parks, ranked World No. 100.</p><p>With Filipino fans expected to once again fill the stands, Eala will look to draw energy from the support she says has made her Australian Open experience even more special.</p>

<p>Alex Eala expressed her gratitude for the strong and growing Filipino presence supporting her during the Australian Swing, saying the warm reception has made her feel right at home as she competes on one of tennis’ biggest stages.</p>

Alex Eala expressed her gratitude for the strong and growing Filipino presence supporting her during the Australian Swing, saying the warm reception has made her feel right at home as she competes on one of tennis’ biggest stages.

Alex Eala thankful for Filipino support during Australian Swing: ‘It makes me feel welcome’

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Alex Eala thankful for Filipino support during Australian Swing: ‘It makes me feel welcome’

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 16, 2026 07:17 PM PHT

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tennis

Alex Eala

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