Alexmania sweeps nation

Not since the heyday of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has the country been captivated by an athlete with Alexmania turning tennis into a widely-popular spectator sport. And world No. 49 Alex Eala is only 20.

Pacquiao was 19 when he claimed his first world title, 31 when he became the first and only eight-division world champion and 40 when he made history as the oldest world welterweight title-holder ever. The wonder of it all is Pacquiao isn’t done fighting and at 47, continues his quest for another belt.

There was a time when foreign TV commentators and ring announcers struggled to pronounce Pacquiao’s name. Before Pacquiao made his US debut in 2001, he needed a translator for an in-terview by TV’s Larry Merchant. As Pacquiao’s career blossomed, commentators learned how to pronounce his name correctly and he held his own in interviews.

When Eala began to make waves on the global tennis circuit, TV commentators at first couldn’t get her name right like how it was with Pacquiao in his early ascent. Now, nobody mispro-nounces Eala’s name anymore.

It isn’t just Eala’s talent and competitive nature that put her at center stage. It’s also her sincerity in coming across as a Filipina proudly bringing honor to her country. She’s as charismatic and respectful of her sport as Pacquiao. Eala’s a picture of class on the court like Pacquiao in the ring.

With Filipinos all over the world yearning to embrace a symbol that brings positivity to a country that is wracked by news of corruption, violence and social unrest, Eala is heaven-sent. Wherev-er she plays, the stands are filled with fans cheering for the underdog from a developing nation. Eala is an inspiring image of hope, courage and brilliance.

Hosting the country’s first-ever WTA 125 tournament is as much for Eala as for the fans. This was set up as a platform for Eala to play at home for the first time in eight years and to continue the efforts in fueling sports tourism. PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio said last year, sports tourism accounted for 10 percent of global travel expenditure with revenues growing at a compound annual rate of 28 percent since 2020. “This is what we’re trying to achieve,” he said.

The WTA 125, now in progress at the refurbished Rizal courts, has brought in players from 17 countries and the eight singles seeds are from different nations, indicating a global reach. Of the five singles wildcards, four are Filipinas to underscore the organizing committee’s prerogative to give an opportunity for locals to showcase their skills before the home crowd. Like Pacquiao, Eala is making things happen in the world of sports.

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