Jimmy Connors sees more than a rising champion when he watches Alex Eala. He sees a player learning how to turn a crowd into an extension of her game.
The eight-time Grand Slam champion praised Eala’s aggressive left-handed style and the Filipino supporters who have transformed her matches into destination events during a recent episode of the Advantage Connors podcast.
“I know what a crowd can do for you,” Connors said.
Few players could speak with greater authority.
Connors built his career on confrontation, feeding off noise whether spectators adored or opposed him. His most famous exchange with a crowd came at the 1991 U.S. Open, when the 39-year-old wild card rode a succession of emotional night matches to the semifinals.
Eala, 21, possesses a different personality. Her connection with the crowd, however, has begun producing a familiar effect.
Jimmy Connors Sees Similarities in Alex Eala’s Game
Connors highlighted Eala’s willingness to stand close to the baseline, take the ball early and attack second serves.
“I like the way she plays,” Connors said. “She’s left-handed. She takes the ball early.”
Those qualities also defined Connors.
The former world No. 1 was a left-handed baseline aggressor in an era dominated by serve-and-volley tennis. His compact strokes allowed him to redirect an opponent’s pace before defenses could reset. His return of serve was among the most feared shots of his generation.
Eala has displayed similar instincts during her North American breakthrough.
She defeated Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the rain-delayed Washington final, becoming the first Filipino player to win a WTA Tour singles title. The victory moved her into the world’s top 20 and supplied further evidence that her run was no longer merely a promising stretch.
“Very fresh, very refreshing,” Connors said of her approach.
Eala carried that momentum to the National Bank Open in Toronto. She defeated Alycia Parks before surviving Caty McNally 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to reach the round of 16, where Olympic champion Belinda Bencic awaits.
Connors believes a WTA 1000 title is the logical next target after Eala’s WTA 500 breakthrough.
Filipino Crowd Gives Eala an Unusual Weapon
The support surrounding Eala has become nearly as notable as her results.
Filipino fans filled the grounds during her Washington run and turned her matches in Toronto into some of the tournament’s most coveted tickets. Organizers placed her on Center Court after acknowledging that the smaller Grandstand could not accommodate the demand.
GettyFans cheer for Alexandra Eala of the Philippines as she plays Caty McNally of the United States during day six of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 07, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario.
Connors believes that presence can lift Eala beyond levels she might reach alone. It can also place another layer of pressure on the player standing across the net.
“That is intimidating,” Connors said.
He would know. Connors routinely pulled spectators into his matches with gestures, arguments and celebrations. Once engaged, the crowd could change the emotional temperature of a contest and make an opponent feel outnumbered.
Eala’s methods are less theatrical, but she has also learned to invite supporters into the fight. During the third set against McNally, she waved her arms and asked the sold-out Toronto crowd for more noise after winning a tense point.
To Connors, that interaction is not disruptive. It is part of what makes tennis compelling.
Fans arrive wanting Eala to win or hoping someone can stop her. Either response creates interest in her matches and, by extension, the women’s game.
Eala’s challenge is to harness that energy without allowing its expectations to become a burden. Connors spent a career mastering that balance.
Now he sees another left-hander discovering how far a crowd can carry her.
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