Bagelled, Booed Alycia Parks Silences Alex Eala Crowd In Comeback Win At AO26 | WATCH

Last Updated:January 19, 2026, 17:09 IST

Alycia Parks overcame a first-set bagel and a pro-Alexandra Eala crowd to win 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 at the Australian Open, silencing fans and showcasing resilience against tough odds.

Alycia Parks silenced a raucous crowd to overwhelm Eala and seal the win (AP)

A first-set bagel. A partisan crowd. Nowhere to hide.

Alycia Parks looked dead and buried early in her Australian Open first-round clash with Philippines trailblazer Alexandra Eala.

But instead of folding, the American flipped the script — storming back for a stunning 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 win in front of a fiercely pro-Eala crowd on Monday.

Court six was bursting at the seams as fans packed every available seat, spilled into the bar overlooking the sideline and lined the baseline ledge. Hundreds more waved Philippine flags from nearby big screens, chanting “Let’s go Alexandra" between points. The umpire repeatedly pleaded for quiet as the noise swelled.

Eala fed off it early. Playing her first Australian Open main draw, the 20-year-old tore through the opening set, overwhelming Parks with pace and precision. But once the American steadied her serve and began hitting her spots, the match turned.

“All signs pointed to her winning in straight sets," Parks admitted. “It was very difficult. I was expecting it — but I also wasn’t. She definitely had the crowd."

“I just told myself to stay in the zone," Parks said. “I started making more first serves and being more aggressive."

Set by set, Parks dragged the contest back on her terms — and gradually silenced the stands. When she sealed the win, the chants vanished, replaced by stunned quiet.

“I don’t know what my record is with crowds against me," Parks laughed. “But it definitely puts a fire in me. I’d say I’m pretty good when the crowds are against me."

For Eala, the loss was painful — made harder by the weight of expectation. Even her practice sessions had drawn huge crowds throughout the week, a sign of how far she has carried Philippine tennis into the spotlight.

“It was heart-warming," Eala said. “But it also made today harder. I know a lot of people were rooting for me."

She admitted the attention had sometimes been overwhelming.

“It’s a learning process," she said. “I didn’t expect that many people."

News sports tennis Bagelled, Booed Alycia Parks Silences Alex Eala Crowd In Comeback Win At AO26 | WATCH

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