Filipino Fans Are Changing Tennis Culture Whether The WTA Likes It or Not

Ever since Alex Eala started racking up wins left and right, the number of Filipinos and Philippine flags present in tennis tournament bleachers has seemingly doubled. Traditionally quiet or subdued Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) crowds have been transformed by passionate, high-energy Filipino fans.

During her historic victory at the Mubadala DC Open and her rise into the WTA Top 20 rankings, the crowd made sure to roar as hard as they could for Eala. But out of this joy came controversy as Filipino fans were called out for their “loud” and “distracting” behavior, specifically during the DC Open and her recent National Bank Open (NBO) matches. The new flock of tennis audiences sparked debate online, with avid tennis fans claiming that the Filipino crowd is disturbing the usual quiet decorum the sport has long had as an unwritten rule, while others defended the passionate crowd. 

Points raised were that the crowd was making noises when the ball was in play or when making line calls, making it distracting for both players. An X user commented on how Filipinos are “disregarding the unwritten rules of tennis,” while some resorted to tweeting microaggressive, racist remarks comparing the Filipino crowd to “hordes of barbarians suddenly on the tennis court” and calling them “jungle people.”

Eala’s most recent opponent, Belinda Bencic, says differently. The Swiss player told reporters that she “never really minded” the cheers. “I was mentally prepared, but it’s not something that bothers me so much,” she added.

“We can understand how there’s excitement in the emotions felt pag medyo exciting yung point pero kailangan kontrolin,” Journalist and former tennis player Dyan Castillejo said in an ABS-CBN video on tennis etiquette. The audience was advised to avoid shouting in the middle of the play or cheering on an opponent’s faults.

The Eala phenomenon

When Eala went back to the Philippines for her homecoming on July 15, she was met with an outpouring of support from Filipinos of all ages. Among those who welcomed her was 2026 Palarong Pambansa gold medalist Maristella Torrecampo, who draws inspiration from Eala as a young tennis player. Reports further showed that many Filipinos have taken up the sport, with stories of how Eala inspired them to pick up a racket and fall in love with tennis. 

Her influence earned her praise from the Philippine Senate. On August 5, the lawmakers unanimously adopted Senate Resolution No. 554 to honor Eala and recognize her achievements and contributions to Philippine sports. They also used her victory to push for sports development that would support grassroots athletes aspiring to reach national and international arenas.

Eala’s hype manifested withal in how local courts remain fully booked, as well as in the opening of more tennis courts in the country. The player commented on this development, saying that “it’s a good thing” that courts are now “hard to get” due to the influx of players. She compared it to her experience, where tennis courts used to be empty or available only at expensive country clubs. 

The Philippine Tennis Association (PhilTA) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) opened the newly renovated Rizal Memorial Tennis Center to the public in April, months after the first Philippine Women’s Open in January, where Eala played. 

“I’m online, I’m seeing everybody play tennis, people of all ages picking up rackets. And I hear stories directly from them of how they picked up tennis, or other racket sports, and things like that,” Eala told reporters during a post-conference match in Toronto. 

“So I think tennis is well-loved back home, and anything I can do to help that cause, it’s my pleasure.” She added.

Sold-out tickets

Although she’s only halfway to the Top 10, metrics suggest that the Eala effect is more than just national pride and is on a continuous rise. DC Open tournament owner Mark Ein said that 80 percent of the ticket sale inquiries in July were for Eala’s matches. Fans online have also noted the huge difference in NBO ticket prices for Eala’s matches compared to those of other players in higher ranks. Regular seating tickets for Eala’s August 8 match against McNally were sold out despite being priced at $60 to $125, while tickets for other matches on the same date started at $40. 

NBO tournament director Karl Hale acknowledged Eala’s impact on the community, calling her an “absolute blessing to the sport of tennis” and their tournament. The NBO saw fans of Eala carrying Philippine flags, as well as banners saying “Salamat, Alex,” “Game on, Alex. Kapag lumago, hindi na hihinto.” 

Despite her Canadian Open run ending against Bencic on August 10, she took pride in what she had already accomplished and thanked her fans for the overwhelming support. Eala will soon make her debut at the upcoming Cincinnati Open in Ohio, where she will be seeded No. 17 with a first-round bye.

The ace also previously shared that competing in the 20th Asian Games in Japan is within her plans. “It’s always an honor. I think it’s different when you play in the Asian and Southeast Asian Games. It’s different; it brings a different vibe than when I competed on the WTA Tour,” she said. Eala is likewise expected to attend the WTA 500 Singapore Open happening on September 21-27, which would bring the Filipina player closer to home. The Singapore Open Tournament’s Instagram post has since been filled with fans asking for her match dates, and Filipinos planning their travel to Kallang to witness her play.