NEW YORK -- As Alex Eala put one foot in front of the other Saturday night, with bags on her shoulder and a country's eyes on her walk, the crowd at the largest tennis stadium in the world welcomed her as one of its own. Simply put, for many in attendance, that's exactly how they saw her.
Eala's rise from unknown to star has been well documented. She is the highest-ranked Filipino tennis player of all time, and attached to each step of her journey have been passionate fans from her home country. At the US Open grounds, they brought a Manila flavor. New York is home to Little Manila, after all.
They followed her every move. Filled the practice court stands. Texted their families about going to her matches. Then, when it was time for Eala to make her competitive debut on Arthur Ashe while facing Iva Jovic in the third round, they made sure she heard them.
Alexandra Eala acknowledges the fans after losing to Iva Jovic on Saturday night. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II Tickets for the night session reached nearly $1,000, a roadblock many of Eala's fans decided to step over.
"We bought tickets -- we were like, 'Woah these are expensive,'" Danny Pascua, who was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States, told ESPN. "But we went ahead. You only live once, right?"
The 21-year-old fell to Jovic 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in a three-hour match. The marathon included its fair share of tense moments. Pascua joined the many others in the stadium who displayed their support for Eala. Philippines flags were a common sight. One fan showed off a sign that read: "Laban Alex" -- "Let's Go, Alex" or "Fight, Alex" in Filipino.
The crowd went back and forth during the match, cheering at times for Jovic, representing the United States, and at others for Eala. When asked about those moments, Jovic offered a quick clarification.