It felt like home

Last Sunday, Eala became the first Philippine tennis player to book a Grand Slam main draw singles win in the open era by outlasting Denmark's World No. 15 Carla Tauson, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) on the first round of the US Open at the Grandstand of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, New York.

- JOAQUIN M. HENSON

In 2001, international broadcasters and even ring announcer Michael Buffer had difficulty pronouncing Pacquiao, murdering his surname without bothering to check how to properly call him. That was when Manny Pacquiao made his US debut in Las Vegas, stopping Lehlo Ledwaba for the IBF superbantamweight title. Now, no one in the world mispronounces Pacquiao any longer. He's a global icon and the only active International Boxing Hall of Famer today.

It's still taking some time for international broadcasters to pronounce Alex Eala's surname the right away. Some queer renditions include Eela, Elala and Ella. But it won't be long before they finally get it because the country's tennis darling is climbing up the ladder of universal recognition as rapidly as Pacquiao did.

The US Open has four "show" courts - Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand and Court 17. The Grandstand is the third largest of the four courts and has a seating capacity of 8,125 at the southwest corner of the grounds.