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Alex Eala reveals scary crowd moment at Australian Open debut
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- Alex Eala reveals scary crowd moment at Australian Open debut
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Alex Eala's experience before her Australian Open debut
Things didn't go as planned for Alex Eala in her first appearance at the Australian Open. The Filipina lost her opening match to Alycia Parks in three sets, 6-0, 3-6, 2-6.
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But it was something that happened before the match that raised concerns. Speaking on the latest episode of 'The Player's Box Podcast', Eala explained what happened after one of her practice sessions in Melbourne.
Eala struggled to move due to overcrowding after Australian Open practice
Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP via Getty Images
Eala's growing popularity in Melbourne was clear, with fans lining up just to see her practise.
"That's another thing I had to get used to, my practices," said Eala.
"That's how I knew, I was like, Okay, things have changed, is when they are waiting for my practices.
"At the beginning of the year, it was a little overwhelming for me, in terms of that exposure.
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"In Australia, I trained outside, on one of the courts; there are bleachers on the sides and kind of this ramp going up. And I did not have security. Next time, I will probably make sure they're there!"
She went on: "But after training it was full. When I went out onto the court and saw all these people coming because they wanted me to sign…
"I couldn't move! There's a wall back here [gestures].
"The traffic of people couldn't see what was happening over there; they're all just pushing you against the wall. I was getting closer and closer."
Eala recalled telling her dad: "'Wait! Give me some space or I'm going to get run over'."
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"Then they all stopped and let me through."
Alex Eala sets sights on clay season after Australian Open exit
Eala has already set her sights on the clay-court swing, outlining her plans during a recent podcast appearance.
"I go back to Spain tonight, and then I start again in Linz, and maybe Stuttgart, then Madrid, Rome… exciting!" she said.
The 20-year-old only won one main-draw WTA Tour match on clay last year, and will be determined to improve upon that record in 2026.
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