Tennis has become more popular in the Philippines, as Filipino tennis player Alex Eala’s meteoric rise fuels interest in the sport. But the 20-year-old says tennis is still an inaccessible sport in the country, with most up-to-standard courts requiring memberships.
Speaking to Front Office Sports News, Eala said, “Thankfully, tennis has risen in popularity at home. And everyone comes up to me whenever I go back to Manila and [says], ‘It’s so hard to get courts.’ And that’s a good thing, because when I was younger, the courts were empty. Nobody was playing.”
Access to courts and equipment remains an issue, Eala added. “There are not many public courts, and if there are, they’re not in great shape. They’re mostly in country clubs.”
The tennis player also admitted that despite her influence, making tennis courts more accessible is “out of [her] hands.” She said, “I think there are more people in power who are able to make a difference.”
Following the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open in January, the Philippine Tennis Association (PhilTA) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) are in talks to open the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila to the public. The facility recently underwent refurbishment in preparation for the Philippine Women’s Open.
The PSC previously opened the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex’s track oval to the public from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and Navotas Mayor and PhilTA Secretary-General John Rey Tiangco aims to mirror this for the tennis center. One Sports reports that Tiangco is also looking to revive the tennis center’s rental scheme. “I also discussed with [PSC] Chairman Pato [Gregorio] if we could manage the courts like before […] Because most of the tennis courts [require a] membership. So, this is what we need, public courts.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Alex Eala says most up-to-standard tennis courts in the Philippines require memberships, mostly located in country clubs. She notes public courts are scarce and often in poor condition, despite growing interest in the sport.
Eala says making courts more accessible is largely “out of her hands,” acknowledging that people in positions of power are better placed to drive that change than an individual athlete.
PhilTA and the Philippine Sports Commission are in talks to open the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila to the public, following its refurbishment for the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open in January.
PhilTA Secretary-General John Rey Tiangco aims to revive the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center’s rental scheme, similar to how the PSC previously opened the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex’s track oval to the public daily.
Alex Eala says tennis has grown more popular at home, with courts once empty now facing high demand. She attributes the shift partly to her own rise as a professional player.
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Pie Gonzaga
Pie Gonzaga is the State of Affairs Writer of Rolling Stone Philippines, covering politics and social issues. Her work with Rolling Stone Philippines includes interviews with figures inside and outside of governance, from congressmen to activists. Aside from politics, she has also written various culture and music stories, such as album reviews, TV show recaps, and explainers for internet/pop culture phenomena.