The Filipino Fans Effect: Why I'm cheering for Alex Eala (Even if I'm Clueless about Tennis?)
"Deuce" Sorry, what now?!I admit, I don't know anything about tennis.
If you'd ask me how the scoring goes, I would maybe give you a blank stare. For the longest time, I only played casual badminton or pingpong with my neighbors in the street every afternoon when I was a kid.
Suddenly, this young Filipina named Alex Eala is making huge noise and creating headlines in the world of international sports. It's a different feeling whenever you see a fellow Filipino fighting for a medal in the big screen in the world of sports. I might not understand the rules of the game but I know what exactly means when a Kababayan (means "fellow Filipino") holds a flag,.that's one of the reasons for me to cheer.
Here are some "clueless fan" cheat sheet I can share: (Based on my research😆)
-
That, in the world of tennis, "LOVE" doesn't mean "affection". In tennis love means 0 (zero) score. Tried to Google the reason why they call it "love" but I'm not satisfied with the answers. Anyways, calling it "love" instead of zero sounds nice 👍.
-
"Deuce" means a tie score. Easy!
-
"U**mpire " According to me👍, **Is he one who is seated in the high chair in the middle of the
court😆.
- And Google said that in Wimbledon, they keep their tennis balls stored in refrigerated containers at exactly 20°C (68°F) to maintain perfect bounce, they call it "Grubby Balls".
Nice to know right?!.
Quiet Fans vs. The Pinoy Energy
I've seen tennis before on TV and I've noticed that it was dominated by mostly European countries making it seems like a very formal sport. If you'll watch older clips,.minimal numbers of crowds sits perfectly still at the side of the court and will just give a simple clap when players got a score. It's their tradition to practice "polite silence". Very formal, very professional.
But that was before Eala.
** **
When Alex Eala plays, the old, traditional tennis atmosphere changed. Whenever there's Filipino fans, expect that we will bring the same intense energy we give to a baranggay basketball tournament or a live boxing match.
Sadly, we don't practice "polite silence" 😁. Wave a Philippine flag in the sports arena and we will cheer, chant and scream our hearts out.
Whenever eala plays, the **umpire ** (*the one who is seated in the high chair in the middle of the *
court😆) had to remind the crowd multiple times to quiet down during the play since the eagerness to shout "LABAN" (means "fight") just burst naturally. Eala definitely turned the quiet stadium into a fiesta of loud Pinoy (Filipino) cheerers.
** **
Why Her Wins Feel Like Ours
My journey as a tennis fan did not start because I love the sport. It started because I saw a young Filipina who succeeds in a sport mostly dominated by wealthy. She had to break through a system mostly dominated by rich countries with endless funding. Seeing her rise through the global ranks and overcome all odds to wave the flag and hold a trophy reminds us that we can compete anywhere in the world.
She didn't just learn how to play a rich person’s sport—she conquered it.
And that's why Alex Eala's wins feel like a victory for every ordinary kababayan.
**ALEX EALA, **First Filipino to win a junior Grand Slam and reach a WTA semifinal
#BlogChallenge2
#BCHNostr
#PiscesDragonBlogChallenge