There was a moment at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open on Saturday where word got out that Alex Eala was spotted around the grounds of the tournament.
Main draw action hadn’t begun yet and the top players were busy practicing for the WTA 500-level event and fulfilling some of their media duties.
When Eala turned up to speak to the press, a crowd had already gathered behind the barricades, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Filipina young star in the making.
Fans of all ages packed the space between the main stadium and the outside courts, carrying ‘Let’s Go, Eala’ posters and calling her name.
It’s a scene that has become familiar to the 20-year-old lefty, whose popularity has exploded back home in the Philippines ever since she won the US Open junior title in 2022.
Her fans have tracked her progress to her current position among the
Continue Reading on The National UAE
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.