If you want to be the best, you have to do things that other people aren’t willing to do. — American Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps
OUR FILIPINA TENNIS champion Alexandra ‘Alex’ Eala may not be among the top 10 netters in the world but she certainly tops them all in viewership as she continuously breaks the rules on who gets or shares the spotlight in the global tennis scene.
And unknowingly, Alex is likewise rewriting the rules.
Our country’s pride just recently trashed Australia’s Maya Joint in a grueling three-set affair, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, in the 2026 Wimbledon Open at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in England on Thursday night (Manila time).
Previously, she outclassed a gritty Renata Zarazua of Mexico, 6-1, 6-2, in a sterling display of skill and prowess in the round of 128 opening match of the tournament. But the highlight of this victory was the support given to the winner.
Eala was amazed by the ‘home crowd’ that watched her play.
“Hindi ko inakala na ganoon ka-puno ang (Court 12) kasi alam ko talaga ang hirap makakuha ng ticket dito sa Wimbledon so I’m very thankful sa mga kapwa nating Pilipino,” she enthused after her win over her Mexican opponent.
Actually, since her name came under the spotlight in the international scene, Alex Eala can surely count on armies of Filipinos rallying behind her as she sets out to make tennis history. She has already experienced the same rockstar treatment from her kababayans in almost every city in the world as one of today’s tennis crowd darlings-even in a magnitude such as Wimbledon.
The situation is simple, when Alex competes, a big number of her matches are at the larger venues because the crowd size she attracts cannot be discounted even as non-Filipinos also are watching her perform.
And her fame and obvious attraction for support, does not remain in the crowds, it also is seen in her popularity in social media and the internet where the figures simply don’t lie.
In the videos of Alex battling Kazakhstan world’s No. 2 Elena Rybakina and Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, viewership reached around 900,000 views each over the official WTA YouTube channel. The next highest at nearly 440,000 views was between current No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and American ace Jessica Pegula.
More than these, over the official Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Facebook channel, posts about Alex also got the biggest number of engagements, with the post of her teaming up with tennis legend Serena Williams in winning their first doubles match getting over 50,000 engagements-the highest in over a month.
Anyone who dismisses these facts as not earthshaking are living in the pre-stone age era. Apparently, the conventional view that the ‘winningest’ athlete in any sport gets the spotlight and the highest social media metrics is no longer true to form.
But this is not the first time a sports figure steals the spotlight from the traditional stars. From boxing, it was Oscar Dela Hoya who broke the rules on who gets the spotlight. And even in defeat, our very own People’s Champ always outshone even the actual winner in his bout in the squared arena.
In ending, let me just lay it out-simple and quick-with or without the fame and popularity, what is considered here is the fact that 21-year-old Alex has beaten a number of top 10 and Grand Slam champions-no small feat in all angles of perception (and consideration).
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