Alex Eala finds extra fuel in cheers of loud crowd

Philippines’ Alexandra Eala celebrates a point against United States’ Caty McNally during a National Bank Open tennis match in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Alex Eala’s loyal and roaring followers have been the center of an ongoing debate over what constitutes proper tennis etiquette. The Filipino superstar has largely kept her voice neutral in that conversation.

But for one moment, after winning a key point in a testy three-setter that she said she really “wanted,” Eala made it clear what she wanted from her supporters.

Get louder.

“[I]n that point specifically … I was hyped. So, I wanted to kind of like share that with the crowd and obviously also try to take in their energy,” Eala said on Saturday (Manila time), when asked what was going through her mind as she encouraged the crowd to cheer on.

“I wanted that point.”

She needed that point—and every bit of energy the crowd could share with her.

The emotions that overtook Eala at the end of her 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 victory over American Caty McNally in the National Bank Open in Toronto made the result seem like more than just a ticket to the fourth round.

And perhaps it was. The 21-year-old Filipino superstar entered the night duel in the middle of a hectic fortnight, one where she won her first WTA title. She was also coming off a string of six straight victories and had to deal with more than just the compounding weight of expectations.

She also did not want this magical run to end.

“These past two weeks, I’ve been feeling emotions so extremely because of the circumstances, which is a great thing,” she said of her current streak. “I think I’m quite a sentimental person.

“To play in front of you guys, it’s amazing, so the motivation to come here and play another match—everything just becomes so much more emotional,” she added.

It showed in the final point as Eala looked on the verge of tears after McNally sent her return long and handed the world No. 20 a seventh consecutive victory.

“Obviously, today was really close,” Eala said.

Philippines’ Alexandra Eala reacts as she clinches a win over United States’ Caty McNally during a National Bank Open tennis match in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

She also had to deal with a forward-charging opponent and a second-set mishap where she took a medical break after rolling her ankle.

Things started looking bleak when McNally refused to wilt, fighting off Eala’s attempt to serve out the match in the second and forcing the grueling decider in a match that lasted two hours and 39 minutes.

“I am as tired as one can be at this stage,” Eala admitted. “You can imagine a lot of matches, but, you know, that’s the job.”

“I needed to push a lot.”

And she also needed every bit of energy the crowd could give her, judging by how spent she looked after the match.

She next faces Swiss 12th seed Belinda Bencic, who advanced after an even more lung-busting three-setter. Bencic needed three hours and 24 minutes to dismiss American Taylor Townsend, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-4.

“[I]t’s going to be the first time that I’m facing her,” Eala said. “And of course, Belinda has accomplished so much in tennis.”

There will be concerns about her ankle, but Eala brushed them off.

“Luckily there’s nothing wrong with it. No serious problems,” she said. “I think I have a great team who’s going to help me recover.”

And, should she need it again, Eala is also expected to have another good crowd providing her with an energy boost. INQ