48% Jump In Ticket Sales: Inside The Alex Eala Effect In Dubai Tennis

2026-02-23 02:18:33

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Packed stands cheered Alexandra Eala on rapturously in every match as flag-waving Filipino fans turned the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium into a cauldron

PUBLISHED: Mon 23 Feb 2026, 7:46 PM

By:
Rituraj Borkakoty

Add as a preferred
source on Google

Having officiated at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships for more than three decades, Hany El Khafief has witnessed many unforgettable moments on Centre Court.

The Dubai-based tennis referee's eyes still light up when he recalls the packed houses that greeted Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andre Agassi, the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, and Maria Sharapova - every time the legends of the game stepped on the court.

Recommended For You Serbia, Sweden urge citizens to quit Iran as Trump mulls strike

Yet, it wasn't until the 20-year-old Filipina sensation Alexandra Eala made her Dubai debut last week that the veteran Egyptian official had understood the true impact a single player can have on the masses.

“This was a different experience. I have seen big matches. I've seen Federer, Djokovic, Nadal and Agassi. Obviously, those matches had full houses,” El Khafief told Khaleej Times.“But this was a very different atmosphere.”

Eala, who arrived at the tournament as world number 47, produced a stunning run to the quarterfinals, with world number eight Jasmine Paolini among her victims.

The rising star's dream debut in Dubai has since catapulted her to a career-high world ranking of 31.

Back in December 2024, when she was ranked 155, Eala had already become the highest-ranked tennis player in the history of the Philippines. Now, her meteoric rise has triggered a tennis revolution in a country where basketball traditionally rules the roost.

That impact was unmistakable in Dubai, where packed stands cheered her on rapturously in every match as flag-waving Filipino fans turned the DDF Tennis Stadium into a cauldron.

El Khafief insists that only Sania Mirza, the trailblazer of Indian women's tennis, had a comparable effect in Dubai when she made her tournament debut in 2005.

“Eala's matches reminded me of Sania Mirza when she played here for the first time,” El Khafief said.“The atmosphere was incredible. Back then, the venue was overcrowded with Indians. Now it was the same with Eala.”

“When players come from countries like India and the Philippines, the stadium feels like a Davis Cup venue. People are cheering for their country, not just for one player.”

No wonder the women's week of this year's Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships saw a 48 per cent year-on-year jump in ticket sales.

“All her matches had packed stands. Even the two semifinals didn't have that kind of crowd. The final had a full house, of course, but Eala's matches were massive; that's the ticket everyone wanted,” he said.

“I normally get messages on my phone from people wanting tickets. But this time, for Eala's matches, the demand was crazy. I was scared to look at my WhatsApp messages. The phone was running out of batteries. Certainly, it was an experience that I will remember for a long, long time.”

Even Jessica Pegula, with the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships trophy by her side after she won the final against Elina Svitolina, showered praise on Eala for winning the heart of a nation.

“We saw it here (in Dubai). You can hear it (the noise) from the (on-site) hotel. You can hear the crowd roaring at night. It's incredible,” the world number five said.

“I think it's awesome for what she's doing for the sport. She's a perfect role model for it. I'm sure she wants to inspire girls, Filipino girls, to play tennis and go after their dreams. It's awesome for the sport.”

Pegula also doffed her hat to the Filipina youngster for her ability to remain grounded amid all the euphoria.

“The way she's been able to pack stadiums and the way her country supports her is something special. She handles it so maturely, with such grace,” Pegula said.

“She seems so appreciative of all the support she gets. Always seems to have a good head on her shoulders and good attitude about it.”

Eala, who was born into an upper-middle-class family, is now likely to travel to the US for the Indian Wells Masters - the next stop of what is turning out to be an incredible journey.

But the talented left-hander, as Pegula pointed out, remains deeply rooted in her culture.

“I always make it a point to be grateful. Coming from where I come from, I've seen some serious poverty, I've seen serious struggle,” she said.

“Although I haven't lived through that struggle myself, I'm able to appreciate what I have.”

Her people certainly cannot thank her enough for giving their basketball-obsessed nation a new identity in the world of sport.