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A television commentator has sparked discussion after criticising fans of rising Filipino tennis star Alex Eala for applauding an opponent’s error on a first serve. The commentator also described the behaviour as unsportsmanlike, and the video is now making rounds on the internet, which has divided users.
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The comments related to Eala’s round-of-16 match at the National Bank Open in Toronto, where she lost 4-6, 0-6 to Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic. A large and vocal contingent of Filipino fans packed the stands at Sobeys Stadium throughout the week, creating a lively atmosphere that has become a hallmark of Eala’s recent breakthrough run.
Watch: Rising tennis star Alex Eala fans criticised for applauding; here’s why
In traditional tennis etiquette, spectators are expected to remain quiet during points and refrain from cheering an opponent’s faults or unforced errors. Applauding a missed first serve is widely viewed as crossing that line. The criticism echoes earlier debates earlier this year, when Eala’s passionate fans faced similar scrutiny for celebrating opponents’ mistakes at events including the Australian Open.
Defenders of the crowds argue that the noise reflects genuine excitement rather than deliberate disrespect, and that similar behaviour has been seen among fans of other popular players in the past.
Meanwhile, Eala has been in strong form recently and has made many new fans following her stunning run on the WTA tennis court. Her strong following has been one of the standout stories of the Canadian Open, even as her seven-match winning streak came to an end. She recently won her first WTA Tour singles title at the 2026 Mubadala Open and became the first player from her country to do so, defeating Jessica Pegula.
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