Alex Eala is apparently receiving special treatment at the US Open

Filipino tennis ace is playing at bigger stadiums unlike some Grand Slam champions.

Alexandra Eala’s US Open scheduling has put the business of tennis under the spotlight after the 21-year-old Filipina was given a spot at the 14,000-seat Louis Armstrong Stadium while several higher-ranked players were scheduled to open on smaller courts.

Eala, the world No. 18 and No. 17 seed, is playing at the tournament’s second-largest stadium. Meanwhile, world No. 2 and two-time Grand Slam champion Elena Rybakina opened her campaign at the smaller, 8,125-seat Grandstand.

The scheduling has drawn criticism from fans who argue that rankings, seeding, and achievements should carry more weight than popularity when the US Open decides which players receive its biggest stages.

Others see the decision as a straightforward reflection of how professional tennis works, with tournaments needing to put players where they can attract the largest crowds and generate the strongest ticket demand.

US Open tournament director Eric Butorac effectively confirmed that commercial appeal played a role, saying organizers knew Eala’s match “had to be on a major stadium” after seeing the Filipino support surrounding her during Fan Week.

The ticket market has since backed up that calculation, with TicketData showing prices for the Louis Armstrong session rising from around $200 to as high as $468 after Eala’s match was announced.

Eala also has the sporting credentials to make the attention easier to justify, having reached a career-high No. 18 ranking, won her first WTA singles title in Washington, and defeated Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek earlier this season.

Her marketability comes from more than results, with her status as the Philippines’ highest-ranked tennis player in history, her large Filipino following, and her growing international profile making her an increasingly valuable figure for tournaments and sponsors.

Whether that amounts to special treatment is ultimately a matter of perspective. But if Eala can draw bigger crowds, drive ticket demand and bring new attention to the tournament, there is a clear business case for giving her the bigger stage, regardless of where she sits in the rankings.

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