Several tennis fans voiced their disapproval over Australian Open mismanagement ahead of Alexandra Eala’s first-round match against Alycia Parks. Large numbers of spectators had lined up at Melbourne Park to watch the young Filipino in action, only for the match to be scheduled on Court 6, a venue with relatively limited seating capacity compared to the demand.
Australian Open’s One ‘Dumb’ Act Ahead of Alexandra Eala’s First-Round Match Leaves Fans Fuming
Eala is widely regarded as one of the tour’s fastest-rising talents, a status she underlined during the 2025 season. The season was highlighted by a semifinal run at the Miami Open, where she stunned Iga Świątek, and a runner-up finish in Eastbourne. She carried that momentum into 2026, opening her season at the ASB Classic in Auckland, where she enjoyed an impressive run before falling to Xinyu Wang in a three-set semifinal.
Fans were eager to watch her in action in Melbourne, and that enthusiasm was evident ahead of her first-round match against American Alycia Parks. An unusually long queue formed outside Court 6, and footage capturing the scene later went viral.
Queue hallucinante pour accéder au court n°6. La raison ? La Philippine Alexandra Eala y disputera tout à l’heure son premier tour de l’Open d’Australie. pic.twitter.com/98PLwYcWYM
— Quentin Moynet (@QuentinMoynet) January 19, 2026
Several fans later voiced their displeasure with tournament organizers for scheduling Eala’s match on Court 6 instead of a main court. “Putting Eala on court 6 is just dumb…” One said.
“WTA should have done their research better. They know Eala’s appeal and should have pushed for a better stage,” another chimed in.
“She should easily be on an Arena court,” the third commented.
One fan bluntly labeled the decision “dumb” and said supporters should get another chance to watch the Filipino star on a bigger court.
MORE: Alexandra Eala Makes True Feelings Known on Her 2025 Run After Hong Kong Setback Ends Season
“Definitely. I feel so sorry for Filippinos who have probably never been to the tennis and will miss out. To make this mistake once is dumb, to ever do it again is unforgivable. I hope these fans give it another chance and keep coming back when she’s on bigger courts,” they expressed.
A section of fans also expressed their notions on Reddit. One fan commented, “I’m reading from X that some folks travelled 12 hrs from Sydney to watch Eala. AO org dropped the ball on this one.”
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“Yeah, Court 6 was already full before 11am. No one in that queue is getting in,” another weighed in.
Eala had a dominant start against Parks in their first-round clash as she won the first set 6-0. The American later responded by winning the second set 6-3, with the third set now being the decider. It remains to be seen if the Filipino progresses further in the tournament.
