MANILA, Philippines — Alexandra "Alex" Eala has been turning heads not just with her play on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour, but also with her ability to pack venues with fans wherever she plays and her overall fast-rising popularity.
No wonder some pundits are likening the world no. 31 player's stardom to that of star singer Taylor Swift, boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, and basketball legend Michael Jordan.
At the Tennis Channel live episode Monday in Manila, player-turned-analyst Genie Bouchard playfully replied "yeah, Taylor Swift" when asked about any women star she remembers who gets the support Alex has been getting wherever she goes.
Turning serious, the former world no. 5 said Eala's stardom resembles that of former Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and even Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao.
"I have to say a little bit of Sania Mirza, back in her heyday, the Indian fans took to her and they followed her around the globe but obviously not to this extend. I think the ceiling that Alex Eala has is obviously that much higher.
"Maybe Manny Pacquiao when he was at the top of his game and alongside Roger Federer, he actually had more prize money. So, I think if Eala can keep doing well with her tennis. Who knows? Sky's the limit on the court, off the court, she could be rolling it if you will."
Days earlier, 4-time Grand Slam champ Kim Clijisters likened Eala's stardom to that of Michael Jordan.
"A lot of players know her now, her strengths and weaknesses. So that’s something that she’s going to have to deal with as well, is to make sure that she can make her strengths become even stronger," Clijisters said on her Love All podcast.
"But work on some of the weaknesses and yeah, and deal with, you know, this life of being, you know, like Michael Jordan in the Philippines. People just think it’s online, and it’s in the news and everything, but it’s, it’s not easy to, I think, to deal with, you know, changes like that.”
The 20-year-old Eala gears up for debut at the Indian Wells slated from March 4 to 15.
Seeded 31st, Eala gets a first-round bye as she automatically secured a second round berth.
