Available for over a year
The Australian Open tennis championships are nearing the end of their first week, but the hottest ticket so far hasn’t been Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek or Aryna Sabalenka. Instead, observers were stunned by the lines to watch world number 49, Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. Her first round match was played on court number 6, leaving many fans disappointed as they could not find a seat. Martina Navratilova was among those who criticized the decision, saying: “The organizers should keep more in mind where the players come from and what the actual fanbase is here.” Inside the field, the stands were filled with fans carrying Philippine flags and loudly cheering on their 20-year-old hero. But although she won the first set 6-0, her opponent, Alycia Parks, eventually found her feet and won the next two sets 6-3 6-2, eliminating Eala at the first hurdle. So where does Alexandra Eala come from and how far can she go in the sport? And could her popularity spark a tennis boom at home? Ben Rothenberg, editor of the tennis magazine Bounces, has called Alex Eala “the hottest tennis player of the moment”. He talks to the BBC’s Ed Harry about how Eala was catapulted into the spotlight at the 2025 Miami Open, her roots in the game and how far she could rise. Kate Reyes, who covered Alex Eala’s rise for Philippine sports website Spin.ph, discusses why she has become so popular with the public. She also shares her thoughts on what Eala’s success to date could mean for the future of the game in the Philippines. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the score line from across the sports world. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, from the Australian Open to the Diamond League and from korfball to Formula 1, we have interviews with extraordinary athletes such as Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure, boxing queen Cecilia Braekhus and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts who work behind the scenes, from the referees who administer VAR to the coaches who keep athletes in top form. What’s more, we have the expertise of the BBC’s best journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sports at all levels. And if you have your own thoughts on the stories we cover, we’d love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. More information, together with our privacy statement, can be found on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore
Program website
#score #Alex #Eala #hottest #ticket #Australian #Open #BBC #Sounds