MANILA, Philippines — Filipino fans came in droves to support Alex Eala at the WTA 1000 National Bank Open in Toronto, filling up the 12,500-seater Sobeys Stadium.
One fan managed to stand out in Eala's last two matches: the guy wearing an inflatable blue dinosaur costume while using the Philippine flag as a cape.
The superfan certainly turned heads especially when cameras captured the 'blue dinosaur' dancing during Eala's court introduction for her third-round match against Caty McNally.
Eala won the match, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, to enter the fourth round.
"You know, today I didn't see him in the crowd. I knew, I know he was there. People told me he was there. But, wow, what a legend," said Eala in the post-match presser, answering if she spotted the superfan in her third-round match.
"Like, it was so funny when I first saw him the first night. Amazing. I think it was just, I don't know, it was like such a light, funny spin to kind of, like, how people support me. It just comes out in very unique ways, and I think his really stood out."
Eala spotted the dinosaur fan in her second-round match against Alycia Parks, even posting it on her Instagram story on Friday.
“Thanks to this legend for holding down the fort," Eala captioned her story.
