MANILA: With the worldwide support she has gotten amid her breakout, Alex Eala has inevitably drawn comparisons with boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
Eala has emerged as the Philippines’ latest sporting trailblazer since her breakthrough at the Miami Open last year. She has continued to make history since, rising to No. 20 in the world as she nears her first full year on the WTA Tour.
She has also become a certified crowd draw at tournaments around the world and helped spark renewed interest in tennis in the Philippines, where basketball and volleyball dominate the sporting landscape.
“I think the feeling that Pacquiao gave the Filipinos was great to have someone to rally over, and when he would have fights, everyone was so excited, and it was just a chance for people to come together. I guess my journey can give similar things like that,” Eala said during a press conference at the Cincinnati Open.
Eala, however, believes she remains far from reaching the level Pacquiao achieved for the country through boxing.
“I mean, it’s very flattering to be compared to him, but at the same time, I think they are also two unique journeys… I don’t think one takes away from the other. I think I’m still very, very far from the levels of Pacquiao.”
There’s no denying Eala’s growing influence in tennis, with fellow players Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula among those lauding her ability to bring a new demographic to the sport.
Eala said she is grateful to see firsthand how her journey has inspired fellow Filipinos, especially after a quick trip home last month.
“A couple of sentences from them is enough to see a glimpse into their stories or how tennis has impacted their lives or how being Filipino and their pride has affected them personally. I think it’s crazy how inspiration can affect other people to what depths, and that’s one thing that I’ve learned going back home,” he said.
Eala continues her buildup for the US Open at the Cincinnati Open, where she is seeded 17th, beginning this weekend. She faces Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the second round. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
