Alex Eala learning to embrace loud crowds at US Open

Alexandra “Alex” Eala has been drawing crowds at her tournaments, but the Filipina tennis star admitted that the atmosphere during her match against Mary Stoiana was particularly loud.

While the crowd was reminded by the umpire to remain quiet during play, Eala said she has been learning to get used to playing in front of energetic crowds.

“It was my first time playing on one of the main stadiums here at the US Open, and it was very loud, especially when the roof is covered,” Eala said in a post-match press conference on Tuesday (Wednesday, Philippine time).

“So that's something that adds to the atmosphere, but it's also something you have to navigate,” the Filipina star added.

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Eala also admitted to feeling nervous before entering Louis Armstrong Stadium but could not say whether the noise from the crowd contributed to her nerves.

Still, she said she has learned to tune out the noise and keep her focus on the match.

“Well, there were nerves for sure. And I'm not really sure if I can pinpoint where they came from, if it's from the noise, [or] if it's from, like you said, the first round of a Slam,” she said.

“But I think with experience, my goal is to tune it out. I've had experience with big crowds, especially in the past year, and I think I've been navigating quite well within myself to keep the focus and focus on what I need to pay attention to.

“In the end, when you get into the groove, get into the rhythm, we play tennis and, you know, a match is a match, whether I think whether there are many people or none. So I think once the players get into that groove, the effect of external factors lessens a little bit,” she added.

Eala will face Oleksandra Oliynykova in the second round.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News