Alex Eala is taking tennis world by storm now she checks off her first US Open box

Ealamania — the Filipina Phenom and her followers — took over the U.S.Open.Alex Eala, whose popularity has taken the tennis world by storm and even transcended the sport, cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 first-round rout of Mary Stoiana on Tuesday.“The support I’ve been getting the last couple of days here in New York and honestly, and to be frank everywhere around the world … MARAMING SALAMAT MGA KABABAYAN!” Eala said on court, which roughly translates from Tagalog to “Thank you very much, my fellow countrymen.”“I thank the community here in New York, the tennis fans, not just from the Philippines, but who have been making me feel so loved and they are so enthusiastic and contributing to the growth of women’s tennis.

Thank you for making it such a pleasure to do my job.”Such has been Eala’s meteoric rise that there was no question that the packed crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium would be backing her against an American playing in her home Slam.The questions were more about how many Philippine flags would be waving in the stands, how far her popularity would spike ticket prices and how much her appeal could energize the sport.Yes, that’s how much aura Eala has, how far and how fast her star has risen.Soccer, basketball and, of course, boxing are bigger in the Philippines than tennis.

Former world champion fighter Manny Pacquiao is the biggest sports icon in the country’s history.But its fastest-rising one today? That’s Eala.A 2022 U.S.

Open girls champ, Eala posted big upsets over Iga Swiatek last year in Miami and at Wimbledon in July.But it was becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a pro tennis title — beating Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula in the DC Open — that saw the country’s president host a reception in her honor and call for a national celebration.With Eala, it’s not just about her game, but her reach.

At just 21, she transcends tennis.She joined Serena Williams and Anna Wintour for an event h...