Alex Eala’s many fans descend on US Open, bearing Filipino flags and lots of love

A massive turnout of Alex Eala's admirers gathered at the U.S. Open's practice courts to support the Filipino tennis prodigy ahead of her first-round match on Monday. The devoted fans brought Filipino flags and adorned themselves with "Laban Alex" hats, encouraging the young athlete to keep fighting. They meticulously captured her groundstrokes, volleys, and serves through photos, videos, and even FaceTiming loved ones.

Despite the practice court being fully occupied, fans who didn't have tickets for the evening event still braved the rain to witness their hero play. Eala's popularity has skyrocketed this summer after defeating Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek and clinching her first tour singles title at Washington, propelling her to an impressive world ranking of 18.

One fan, Andrea Belen, a premed student at New York University, had never been a tennis enthusiast until Eala emerged as her idol. Her father, originally from Laguna in the Philippines, had also become a tennis fan due to Eala's immense talent. The two traveled together to the practice court hours before her match, confident that the seats would fill fast, and they were not disappointed.