From her practice sessions to exhibition and mixed doubles matches, there is no doubt that Alex Eala is a crowd favorite in the ongoing U.S. Open, drawing thousands of fans who flock to the courts just to catch a glimpse of the Filipina star.

The 21-year-old Eala humbly acknowledged the reality of her meteoric rise, embracing it with a grateful heart while recognizing that her breakthrough was perhaps inevitable, given the historic distinction of becoming the first Filipina to achieve such an impressive feat.

“At the forefront of everything is gratitude: I’m very grateful for the support that my fans give me and that my supporters give me,” Eala said.

“Every single WTA player and every single ATP player has contributed to the world of tennis and its history just by being here and by putting in the work every single day,” she added.

Eala’s growing popularity has not gone unnoticed, earning recognition from fellow tennis stars and former US Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe. Even the US Open organizers made their move, assigning the charming left-hander to Louis Armstrong Stadium for her first-round match.

McEnroe previously urged that it would be "a great story" if the host put Eala on bigger courts

It is the second-largest court at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as it can cater more than 14,000 spectators, behind the Arthur Ashe Stadium which accommodates nearly 24,000 fans.

There, the Southeast Asian Games champion faces American qualifier Mary Stoiana on Wednesday, Sept. 2 (Philippine time), marking their second showdown as they battled before in a W100 event in Landisville, Pennsylvania, where the former prevailed in straight sets.

Eala's appearance at Armstrong is expected to become a sold-out venue with most of the crowd being Filipinos.

Also, Eala drew cheers on the center court after competing in the Stars of the Open – an exhibition event – where she eventually bowed to her American friend Iva Jovic.

It turned out the most viewed match in U.S. Open's YouTube channel as it closing in on 2 million views, eclipsing the 2009 men's finals clash of Swiss tennis icon Roger Federer and Argentine Juan Martin del Potro.

But it can be recalled, Eala was already a big hit in the US Open last year, entering as a debutant in the main draw and making it a fitting one after she stunned 14th-ranked Clara Tauson, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (11), before the 8,000 spectators at the Grandstand.

Currently world No. 18 and 17th seed in the final major, Eala admitted that she is taking inspiration from her loved ones and country, helping her to continue to work on her unprecedented dreams.

“I would say, anything is possible and to dream big,” said Eala. “I think me as a person, I'm very ambitious, and although there was no one from my country who did this before, was successful in tennis, you know, I took inspiration from anyone I could, from my family, from my brother.”

“So I think just to be ambitious and to dream big and know that you can do it,” she added.

As she eyes another historic triumph in New York, Eala is also gearing up for her much-awaited appearance in the coming 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan.