Alex Eala is taking tennis world by storm — now she checks off her first US Open box

Ealamania — the Filipina Phenom and her followers — took over the U.S. Open.

Alex Eala, whose popularity has taken the tennis world by storm and even transcended the sport, cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 first-round rout of Mary Stoiana on Tuesday.

“The support I’ve been getting the last couple of days here in New York and honestly, and to be frank everywhere around the world … MARAMING SALAMAT MGA KABABAYAN!” Eala said on court, which roughly translates from Tagalog to “Thank you very much, my fellow countrymen.”

“I thank the community here in New York, the tennis fans, not just from the Philippines, but who have been making me feel so loved and they are so enthusiastic and contributing to the growth of women’s tennis. Thank you for making it such a pleasure to do my job.”

Such has been Eala’s meteoric rise that there was no question that the packed crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium would be backing her against an American playing in her home Slam.

The questions were more about how many Philippine flags would be waving in the stands, how far her popularity would spike ticket prices and how much her appeal could energize the sport.

Yes, that’s how much aura Eala has, how far and how fast her star has risen.

Soccer, basketball and, of course, boxing are bigger in the Philippines than tennis. Former world champion fighter Manny Pacquiao is the biggest sports icon in the country’s history. But its fastest-rising one today? That’s Eala.

A 2022 U.S. Open girls champ, Eala posted big upsets over Iga Swiatek last year in Miami and at Wimbledon in July.

But it was becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a pro tennis title — beating Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula in the DC Open — that saw the country’s president host a reception in her honor and call for a national celebration.

With Eala, it’s not just about her game, but her reach. At just 21, she transcends tennis. She joined Serena Williams and Anna Wintour for an event honoring Roger Federer in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“She brings such an amazing crowd, even for practice,” Osaka said.

Eala’s debut at the Toronto Open sold out less than a half-hour after her match time had been announced. In D.C., organizers said over 80 percent of the ticket requests had regarded Eala.

And Tuesday, when the get-in ticket prices for three of the four sessions were under $120 — including Coco Gauff on Arthur Ashe — the exception was $357 to see Eala, per TicketData.com.

Fans wrapped around Louis Armstrong waiting to get into her match.

And when they did, some waved Filipino flags with pride and had Eala’s face emblazoned on custom shirts — the same face that’s on a billboard on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, Manila’s longest stretch of highway.⁠

A focus of national pride for a country where income disparity is a huge problem, Eala has said the pressure of playing tennis is “nothing compared to the pressures that everyday Filipinos face providing for their families.”

There are an estimated 260,000 Filipinos here in the city, with the biggest concentration in Queens. The Little Manila neighborhood is just miles away from the U.S. Open, as the crow flies, or a short ride on the 7.

Many came out in force Tuesday to support her.

Eala played up on the baseline, pressuring her American foe. And her serve was more than good enough.

She got a quick double break and dominated the first set.

Stoiana finally held to get on the board at 5-1. But Eala — whose lefty serve is far from potent, but is improving — got 65 percent of her first serves in and won 78 percent of her first-serve points to take the first set.

Eala fended off a brief challenge from the Connecticut native, breaking and then holding to go up 4-2. She staved off a total of six break points to seal it, getting loud cheers.

“Thank you to everyone for being a part of my journey,” Eala said, “and making it such a pleasure to do my job.”