NATIONAL BANK OPEN

August 6, 2026

Alexandra Eala

Press Conference

A. EALA/A. Parks

6-1, 4-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Alex, well done. Talk about the match today.

ALEXANDRA EALA: It was amazing. Such a memorable match. My first time here in Toronto. Of course, I think it was definitely a challenge for me to get through today, and I'm really happy with how I handled things.

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with English.

Q. You've played in front of a lot of crowds where you've been the overwhelming crowd favorite. Just thinking about like Australia when you played there, and then Dubai. Is this perhaps the most crowd support you felt or maybe, I know Dubai was a lot.

ALEXANDRA EALA: Dubai was also a lot.

Q. Feel like they're neck and neck or...

ALEXANDRA EALA: It's very difficult. It's very difficult to compare. I do think it's a different, it's a very different vibe. I saw so many Filipino flags today, it gave me so much joy. But, yeah, I would have to say they're neck and neck. It's very difficult to compare, yeah.

Q. Curious what your mindset was after the second set, and how you were able to just navigate the third set, there were a lot of breaks and just trying to close out this close match.

ALEXANDRA EALA: Yeah, I think I had to take it point by point. Of course I think she played really well in the second and there were definitely things I could have done a little better.

I tried to improve on that in the third. I tried to come out hot and just take all the opportunities that I could, because she doesn't really give you much. But, yeah, that's what I was thinking.

Q. Obviously you received the support of Filipinos here in Canada, but just curious what kind of a difference have you seen back home, just in terms of the popularity of the sport as well as just even accessibility. Because growing up you got to play on shell courts and on basketball courts, so just kind of curious how the game has grown.

ALEXANDRA EALA: You mean back home in Manila?

Q. Yeah.

ALEXANDRA EALA: Yeah, I would love to be home more often. The tour as you know is very demanding, I'm traveling a lot. So I definitely see Manila or the Philippines, the whole entirety of it in a different light every time I come back.

From what I've been told it's very difficult to get courts now days. Online I'm seeing everybody is playing tennis, people picking up racquets, of all ages.

I hear stories directly from them of how they have picked up tennis or other racquet sports and things like that.

I think tennis is well loved back home, and anything I can do to help that cause, you know, it's my pleasure, yeah.

Q. After the match, that moment where you kind of get to talk to the fans in the stadium, how would you describe what you're feeling in that moment, and what's it like to have that moment with your supporters?

ALEXANDRA EALA: I was so hyped after the match. I was so hyped. Yeah, in the on-court interview, when I was in the gym, I was so hyped still, I think.

This win really meant a lot. I think it was a great opportunity for me to learn and to grow as a player. Definitely not easy I think transitioning from one tournament to another so soon, and after, you know, a lot of emotions that I have experienced the past I guess what, 48 hours. So really proud of myself, and hopefully I can keep the ball rolling.

Q. Toronto is home to over 300,000 Filipino, people of Filipino descent. What would be your message to your supporters? Obviously you have more games moving forward, what would you say to kind of keep this support rolling on through those matches?

ALEXANDRA EALA: No, I just want to thank them. I want to thank everybody. I know Toronto is such a multi-culture city, so it's nice for me to be here for the first time, experience that culture, experience that atmosphere.

Of course, out there I felt very at home with all the people supporting me. And, you know, I hope that they enjoyed the tennis, I hope that they enjoyed the grounds, and they can see all of these great matches and experience it and want to come back, yeah.

Q. You got to actually play in a 125 tournament in Manila earlier this year after the Australian Open. Just what did that mean to you to be able to take part in a tournament back home? Obviously, you being in person and performing in front of locals, it kind of gives them a face, a goal like that is attainable. Whereas, yourself, your idol growing up was Maria Sharapova.

ALEXANDRA EALA: Yeah, that was super meaningful for me to have that first WTA tournament at home and to be part of it. I think the leaders of Philippine tennis did a great job pulling that together. I heard loads of good feedback from the players and from the fans.

So I'm super happy that that pushed through. Hopefully it continues for a very long time.

It was super meaningful for me, and I think for especially the Philippine tennis players and women's tennis in the Philippines.

I tell people like, for example, US Open, or any of the slams, or all these big tournaments that people have in their hometowns, they have memories of going and attending those tournaments as kids. And then it becomes kind of full circle and it becomes a goal for them to look forward to as they develop in their tennis journey.

So hopefully these tournaments, these WTA tournaments in Manila can be that for the Filipinos too.

Q. Curious, with such a huge Filipino community here if you actually have any family or friends here in Toronto. Also if you've been able to seek out advice on places to check out or restaurants to eat at?

ALEXANDRA EALA: In Toronto, I don't think so. I don't think I have, right off the top of my head, no. If I miss anybody, I'm so sorry. My family's pretty big. It's like I have family in a lot of places around the world.

But no, I have not. There are loads, I think there's, I mean, with the community here, like I think there's just so many spots to go to. But, yeah, just my schedule now is kind of hotel, court, hotel, court.

Maybe later in the week, hopefully, you know, I do well here and get to spend more time in the city, yeah.