Alycia Parks navigates “difficult” atmosphere vs. Alexandra Eala at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia—Alexandra Eala made a high-wattage debut at the 2026 Australian Open on Monday but was unable to channel the energy of a jam-packed Court 6 crowd and ultimately bowed out, 0-6, 6-3, 6-2.

“That's one of the things that makes a loss like today a little bit harder is I know a lot of people were rooting for me,” the 20-year-old Filipina No. 1 said in her post-match press conference.

Eala became the breakout star of the 2025 season when she stunned world No. 2 Iga Swiatek en route to the Miami Open semifinals, and became the first from her country to win a Grand Slam main draw match at the US Open last summer.

Playing on an outer court that belied her growing star power, Eala appeared poised to score another win when she blanked Parks in the opening set but the big-serving American eventually steadied to secure the win.

“It was very difficult,” a smiling Parks said after the match. “It was like, I was expecting it, but I wasn’t. She definitely has a good crowd. I was just telling myself to stay in the zone and that I got to do what I got to do.”

Parks made her own major breakthrough at this tournament back in 2024 when she reached the third round against Coco Gauff, but has struggled with consistency since. The crowd left Parks visibly rattled early on as she netted two overheads in her opening serve game to get broken.

“It definitely wasn’t the worst,” she said of the crowd’s general decorum, “but in between first and second serves and the clapping when you miss, that’s just something I had to ignore and get used to the whole match.”

Having played in similarly partisan environments at Roland Garros, Parks credited that experience with what ultimately got her over the finish line.

“I don’t know what my record is with crowds that are against me, but it definitely puts a fire under me!” she laughed. “I would say I’m good when crowds are against me.”

For Eala, the match was the culmination of an at-times overwhelming week playing the at the Asia-Pacific Grand Slam event, describing large crowds even for her practices.

“I didn't expect that many people to be there,” said Eala. “So it's a learning process, like anything.

Her online presence is even greater; a video of her pre-tournament press conference boasts views in the six figures, dwarfing those of even the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

“I like to think that I have a following for a reason. I like to think that the impact that I've had and the platform that I've built has a positive effect on a certain demographic and my demographic.

“Yeah so, I mean, I guess this is one of the moments that I can reflect on what this means for Philippine tennis. I'm the only Filipina in the draw this year. I'm the only Filipina that's ever been in the draw, I think. So there are positives to take away.”

While Parks booked a second-round singles clash with No. 19 seed Karolina Muchova, Eala will be back on court on Tuesday for her first round of women’s doubles with Brazilian partner Ingrid Martins. The match has been assigned to Court 12, another non-stadium court, making it easy to imagine it will be hottest ticket on the grounds.