Olympic Gold Medalist Monica Puig sends a message of admiration to rising tennis star Alexandra Eala after her 'wild' crowd reactions in Abu Dhabi. Eala's popularity has soared in the first months of the 2026 season, with lengthy queues outside her matches at the Australian Open, Philippine Women's Open, and Abu Dhabi Open. Puig praises Eala's ability to draw new fans to tennis, calling her crowds 'absolutely wild'. However, Puig also acknowledges the responsibility that comes with being the face of tennis for one's country. As Eala prepares for the Qatar Open, Puig asks what she needs to improve to challenge for a Grand Slam title. The 20-year-old has already achieved a career-high ranking of world number 40, and fans are eager to see if she can maintain this momentum. Will Eala's popularity translate into Grand Slam success? And does anyone else come close to her popularity right now?
