Filipina tennis star Alex Eala after her first round match against Alycia Parks in the Australian Open in Melbourne, January 19, 2026. Liz Vagg, Tennis Australia
MANILA — Amid Alex Eala's growing influence, drawing huge crowds at the Australian Open, former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic said her situation is a "good problem" to have as Filipinos follow her rise to prominence.
Djokovic, who has the most Grand Slam wins with 24 titles, is looking at Eala and her fans on a positive note, amid talks on her match at the Australian Open being "too crowded."
"I saw the other day with Alex Eala, you know, that's been a talk which is understandable. There are some players coming from respective countries, like she's coming from the Philippines, which is now a big deal," said Djokovic. "She's been the biggest ever tennis player from that country, which is a big country, and there's a big interest. So things like that happen."
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He even asserted that Eala could have played in a larger venue just to accommodate her fans.
"You could argue that it was maybe a poor schedule and maybe they could schedule him on a bigger court," the Serbian professional tennis player said.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot to Lorenzo Musetti of Italy during the Miami Open Presented by Itau at Hard Rock Stadium on March 25, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Matthew Stockman, Getty Images/AFP/file photo
It's better to see the courts having this kind of "problem," Djokovic insisted, comparing it to matches lacking attendance.
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"Again, it's a good problem to have, to be honest. Let's just imagine if there's a lack of people coming or if the stands are empty, that's a bigger problem. I mean, this is great," he said.
Although the World No. 49 Pinay eventually bowed out of the Australian Open in the first round, losing to the USA's Alycia Parks, 6-0, 3-6, 2-6, she still made waves, with a whole nation behind her back.
Eala returns to action in the inaugural Philippine Women's Open, scheduled for January 26-31.