'Absolutely amazing': Filipinos in UAE hail Alex Eala’s performance at Dubai Tennis Championships

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A kind of fever has swept through the estimated 750,000 Filipinos here, who threw their support behind tennis sensation Alexandra “Alex” Eala.

Eala, ranked 47th in the world, ended her campaign at the Dubai Tennis Championships after falling to world number 4 Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals, 6-0, 6-2, late Thursday.

Ambassador Alfonso A. Ver, head of the Philippine mission to the UAE, said the Filipino community here is “immensely proud of Eala and her incredible string of victories," adding that her “grit, humility, and passion have captured the heart and admiration” of the people. 

“These wins are not just for herself but for the entire Filipino nation and an inspiration that with dedication and faith, the Filipino spirit can shine anywhere in the world,” the ambassador further said in a statement.

Eala was, herself, not without words. 

"At the end of the day, I think there's definitely still a gap in terms of level between me and Coco and other players of her caliber," WTA quoted Eala as saying in her post-match press conference.

"My job is to try and close that gap, and I think I'm doing that quite well. So I'll keep working on it, and hopefully next time it will be a bit tighter." 

‘Lost with grace’

Everyone was quiet as Gauff dominated the game. Eala managed to score two points, but it was not enough to take it to the deciding set.

“It was a truly good game. I call it 'lost with grace,’” said Marilou Lorenzo Joson, who viewed the match with her friend.

“We watch to support Alex as the first Filipina who made history, (considering the) full crowd in the tennis court. Even Coco said in an interview that it was great to see a community solidarity supporting Alex, and she feels honored to play with her. Alex was zero on the first round, but the crowd kept shouting, ‘That’s ok, Alex. Go, go, Alex.’ She looked tired, too. But she definitely did her very best. At least she was not zero the whole game,” she added.

“It’s sad, but I’m okay,” said Emille Parcia. She also watched the second game, which was on Tuesday between Eala and world number 8, Jasmine Paolini from Italy, who lost to the Filipina player. It was her birthday that day, and she thought she'd treat herself to a match.

“Knowing the rank of her opponent, (the game) was like an extreme one, and Alex was able to play with her. It is not for winning, but for gratitude to know her skills and think of what more she needs to do,” she added.

Previous to Thursday, Eala won in three games—Sunday against number 45, Hailey Baptiste, who did not continue the game due to an injury; Tuesday against Paolini; and Wednesday against number 32, Sorana Cirstea of Romania.

Prayer

“Tinanong ni Alex sa mga kabayang nanood ng isang laban niya na ‘Ilan kaya sa inyo ang nagdarasal para sa akin?’ Sagot namin: Lahat kami, Alex. Panalangin namin ang patuloy mong tagumpay, sabay sa aming panalangin at dasal ng tagumpay ng bawat Pilipino sa UAE o saan man sa mundo," Ver said.

“Mabuhay ka, Alex! At mabuhay ang bawat Pilipinong nagdadala ng dangal sa ating bansa.”

(Alex asked in one if her matches, “I wonder how many of you were praying for me.” Our answer: All of us, Alex. We pray for your continued triumph, as we also pray for the triumph of every Filipino in the UAE or elsewhere in the world. Long may you be victorious, Alex! And long may other Filipinos, bringing honor to our country, live.)

Ver added: “Maraming salamat din sa ating mga kababayan dito sa UAE sa inyong walang-humpay na suporta, sigaw, at pagmamahal. Sa bawat tagumpay ni Alex, at iba pang kababayan sa anumang larangan, napapatunayan na sa pagkakaisa ng mga Pilipino, walang imposible.”

(Many thanks, too, to our countrymen and women here in the UAE for your unrelenting support and love. For every victory that Alex made, and other compatriots in other fields, we prove that in our unity as Filipinos, nothing is impossible.) 

From work to stadium

Most Filipinos, who watched the games live, traveled from the other side of the city to DDF in Garhoud to watch her play. 

Others carried placards telling her she can enjoy their pancit (noodles) at their home after the match—an invitation answered by one saying they have shawarma. There also was a mother carrying a signboard asking the tennis superstar to marry her son. 

The rest, who could not make it due to sold-out tickets, watched at their homes.

Seeing Eala was not as simple as it may sound to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), who filled the 5,000-seater DDF for the games.

Aside from those who had to travel as far as Jebel Ali down south, there is a day job to mind—the leaves of absence and the money for the tickets, which cost AED180 ($50) for the regular seats.

Nonetheless, they came. Not only to watch the game, but also to show support.

“Yes, I’m one of those. Directly from work. Spent time and resources, including prayers and applause,” said Ron Awa, who works at the group medical services section of the Emirates Airline, one of the UAE's two flag carriers.

Dr. Dan Lester Dabon of Dubai Health said it “felt different” watching the games.

He watched Eala’s matches against Paolini and Cirstea.

“Hindi lang siya match, parang may bitbit na bandera bawat rally. When Alex Eala stepped onto the court, ramdam mo agad na may Filipino energy sa paligid. May flags, may sigawan ng ‘Laban, kabayan!’ May kaba sa bawat serve. Hindi ito yung usual polite tennis crowd. Buhay na buhay. Every point she won, parang finals agad ang reaction. Si Alex Eala? Composed. Focused. May maturity sa galaw. Hindi siya nagpa-panic kahit pressured. You could see the discipline, calculated ang shots, patient sa rallies, hindi nagmamadali. May moments na nahirapan siya, especially sa longer exchanges, pero she kept fighting. Walang give-up body language. That alone earned respect,” he said. 

(It’s not only a match. It’s as if there was a (Philippine) flag carried at every rally. When Alex Eala stepped onto court, you can immediately feel the Filipino energy all around. There were flags, shouts “Fight on, kabayan!” There was fear in every serve. This was not the usual polite tennis crowd. They are so alive. Every point she won was as if it was the finals. Alex Eala? There was maturity in her. She does not panic even under pressure. The shots were calculated, (she was) patient in rallies, not in a hurry. There were times, she felt like struggling…but she kept fighting. You could sense no give-up (in her) body language.)

'Absolutely amazing'

Dabon said the match itself was “intense (as the) momentum kept shifting.”

“There were stretches that were too close for comfort. The matches were not one-sided. It was a test of mental strength more than anything. And the crowd? Solid support. Not only Filipinos. There were international spectators who also started clapping for her because effort speaks louder than nationality. By the third set, everyone was invested. Overall? It wasn’t just about winning or losing. It felt like witnessing growth. You see an athlete evolving in real time. And for many of us there, it wasn’t just entertainment, but it was pride,” he said.

Wafa Qasimieh, a prominent Dubai-based Filipino community leader and cultural consultant at the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) with a PhD in Humanities, watched the second game. It was her first time seeing a tennis match live, she said.

“They are both talented players, but Alex was absolutely amazing. Her performance really stood out. Her strategy was smart, her shots were powerful, and her technique was excellent. She played with confidence and control,” Qasimieh said.

Franz Ramirez Angeles, who works at a multinational rail company in Dubai and also watched the second game, said the match was “super intense.”

“Seeing our flag at the stadium is a pride for every Filipino in the UAE. It's because of Alex. She put our flag in the tennis world,” she said.

“The crowd was exhilarating,” exclaimed Jane Packer, who watched Sunday’s match with her 14-year-old daughter and foreign husband.

“A sea of Filipinos cheering Alexandra on, feeding her every point after point. They started a Mexican wave, which made it feel more like a celebration than a match,” she said.

Sally Mallari, a personal assistant to a sheikh, has reasons to be happy. Driving from the other side of the city to feast her eyes on the game, she got her Facebook account monetized because of a single and initial post of Eala, which got the number of her followers to swell from 3,000 to 15,000.

“Alex Eala’s participation here at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship has been really exciting—I would say it’s almost a phenomenon. Ang daming OFWs na lumabas para sumuporta, and you can truly feel the pride and unity in the crowd,” said Mallari.

(There are a lot of Filipinos who came out to show their support.)

“The energy was exceptional. Seeing everyone’s faces, the cheers, and the Philippine flags — it really lit up the whole stadium. Sold out palagi — punong-puno ang venue wherever and whenever she plays,” she added.

(It’s always a sold-out match. The venue was really packed, wherever and whenever she plays.)

“It’s more than just tennis—it's a moment for the Filipino community to come together and rally behind one of our own. It really makes you proud.”

Mallari, who watched all the games in Dubai, also went to Abu Dhabi and joined the Filipinos who filled the place when 20-year-old Eala recently played there – and won against Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the Round of 16 at the WTA 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open three weeks ago.

Packer, who used to work for celebrities and events, said it was a “shame (Eala) won through her opponent’s injury.” 

“But in true Filipino style, Alexandra’s first thought at her interview was to wish her opponent, Hailey, a speedy recovery,” Packer said.

“It would have been great to experience the cheer of the crowd had the game run the full course.” — VBL, GMA Integrated News