Alex Eala's fans pack U.S. Open practice court with Filipino flags and 'Laban Alex' hats Fans filled every seat at Alex Eala's practice court hours before her first-round U.S. Open match, bringing Filipino flags and 'Laban Alex' hats. The 21-year-old Filipino, ranked a career-best 18th, has become a source of pride for a growing fan base. NEW YORK — About four hours before Alex Eala of the Philippines took the court for her first-round U.S. Open match Monday night, every seat at her practice court was filled. Many of Eala's fans did not have tickets for the evening session; they came anyway to watch her hit practice groundstrokes, volleys and serves. And this was only at the practice courts. The fans waved Filipino flags and wore bright blue hats that read 'Laban Alex' — a Tagalog exhortation to fight. They cheered her sizzling groundstrokes, documented her volleys and serves in photos and video, and some FaceTimed with friends or family to share the moment.The scene was the latest sign of the enormous, ardent and ever-growing fan base around the charismatic 21-year-old Filipino tennis player. Eala, who waved to the crowd during National Bank Open Tennis action in Toronto on Aug. 9, 2026, has had a breakthrough summer. She beat Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon and won her first tour singles title in Washington, climbing to a career-best 18th in the world; many think she will continue her ascent.Among the fans watching on a rainy afternoon was Andrea Belen, a 21-year-old premed student at New York University and the same age as Eala. Belen said she had not been a big tennis fan until Eala came along because Eala was someone who looked just like her. Belen's father, back home in Cleveland, also became a tennis fan out of pure admiration for Eala; the family is originally from Laguna in the Philippines.'It's his new obsession,' Belen said. 'It's become the family hobby. ' Belen and her friend Sarah Frederick arrived at the practice court long before Eala appeared, correctly guessing the seats would fill quickly. Belen explained that in the Philippines, basketball and boxing reign supreme and the sports heroes are men.'It's just really nice to see a woman out there,' Belen said. 'Also, she speaks in our native language, Tagalog. ' As Belen chatted and Eala pounded her groundstrokes, a voice from the row behind Belen called out, 'Yay, Alex! ' It was Ellene Santos, 67, who had come to the tournament from Orlando, Florida.Like Belen and Frederick, Santos did not have a ticket for the evening match, but she was thrilled to get her Eala fix: 'I'm happy now,' she smiled. After practice ended, four retired nurses, all friends, headed for the exit wearing matching bright blue hats emblazoned with 'Laban Alex.' Joy Rodriguez, 65, said, explaining her ardent fandom, 'I love how Alex shows she is so proud to be from the Philippines. ' Her friend Maria Espiritu, 67, said this was the first tennis tournament she had ever attended. Nearby, Frances Arespacochaga, 77, was taking photos with fellow attendees. Arespacochaga lives in Manila and was in the United States visiting her sister in Massachusetts; together they drove down to see Eala at the U.S. Open, bearing flags.'She's very intelligent, very articulate; in her interviews you can see her values,' Arespacochaga said. Belen, who FaceTimed with her father during the practice session so he could see Eala, spoke of a special Filipino pride in the achievements of countrymen. She mentioned gymnast Carlos Yulo, who won two gold medals at the Paris Olympics in 2024.'Everyone went crazy,' Belen said. 'We're not that big of a country so those golds meant so much. ' She added, 'We're very loud when it comes to supporting our people. ' Should Eala stick around a while at the U.S. Open, it's bound to get a lot louder.The fans who packed her practice court came bearing Filipino flags and lots of love. For many, Eala is more than a tennis player; she is a symbol of pride, representation and hope for Filipinos at home and abroad.