Alex Eala has quickly become one of the most popular figures on the tennis circuit.
The Filipina youngster has become a fan favourite over the past year, with onlookers captivated by her first-strike tennis and polite off-court demeanour.
Eala has also become a key inspirational figure for Filipino tennis – an individual who has already broken the mould for her nation.
Are Alex Eala’s fans good for tennis or do they need to behave better?
They have received some backlash for their behaviour during some of her recent matches…
Eala’s influence has grown exponentially during the North American hard-court swing following her title-winning campaign in Washington and her impressive performances in Toronto.
Rennae Stubbs has now offered her thoughts on Eala’s impact on tennis.
Rennae Stubbs discusses Alex Eala’s influence on the next generation
“The commentators were saying that they don’t really understand the sport of tennis yet, because they are so new to it, because of the phenomenon of Alex Eala,” Stubbs, the coach of Serena Williams, said of Eala’s fans and their raucous support of the Filipina during the Canadian Open.
“So they are screaming at times when it’s in the middle of the point and they are getting very excited.
“I have to say that even in China, when I went there for the first time and they had not had tennis there professionally, and even at the Olympics, it was like they did not understand tennis etiquette that much.
“They would scream in the middle of the point or say stuff in between first and second serves and it was like they don’t understand the etiquette of tennis.
Alex Eala’s Canadian Open campaign
- R1: BYE
- R2: defeated Alycia Parks 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
- R3: defeated Caty McNally 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
- R4: lost to Belinda Bencic, 4-6, 0-6
“I am all for the excitement,” the Australian, speaking on The Rennae Stubbs Podcast, continued. “There is nothing more exciting than what we are getting every time she walks on the court.
“Caty McNally said to her after the match ‘thank you for letting me be a part of this’! So even the tennis players that have been out here a long time are realising that this is an atmosphere that you probably have never played in front of ever, except maybe Serena in New York the last time she played there.
“That is what you are getting every time you play Alex Eala, so you have to be mentally prepared to deal with that.
“Alex Eala is going to bring so many young kids to the sport of tennis and that is only going to make this sport grow even more.”
Eala has now travelled to Ohio for the Cincinnati Open.
The youngster, 21, is seeded 17th in the event and has received an automatic bye through to the second round.
There, she will face either Magda Linette or Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
If Eala advances further in the competition, she could play Amanda Anisimova and Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
How far does Alex Eala reach in Cincinnati? 🎾
Alex Eala’s record against her possible opening-round opponents in Cincinnati
Eala has a 2-2 record against Magda Linette on the WTA Tour.
Linette defeated Eala in both of their first two meetings, triumphing at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Open and 2025 Nottingham Open.
Eala has restored parity since then, beating the Pole at the 2026 ASB Classic and 2026 Miami Open.
Alex Eala vs Magda Linette on the WTA Tour
- 2024 Abu Dhabi Open: Linette bt. Eala 7-6, 6-1
- 2025 Nottingham Open: Linette bt Eala 6-4, 6-3
- 2026 ASB Classic: Eala bt. Linette 6-3, 6-2
- 2026 Miami Open: Eala bt. Linette 6-3, 7-6
Eala lost her one previous match against Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
The Romanian defeated Eala 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the third round of qualifying at the 2024 US Open.
