It’s high time tennis gets a “high energy” crowd. And Filipinos are setting the trend on what a “high energy” crowd in tennis is, every time they cheer and almost put on a pedestal Alex Eala.
Well, let me say it again – it’s high time tennis gets its own “high energy” crowd, because, if not, tennis might as well be played like chess – or in a venue where silence is the norm.
In my view, the real sports superstars don’t wilt or get distracted by a wildly cheering crowd. In fact, the top dogs in boxing are those who are not affected by a gallery that is also hostile to them, and still manages to win. Ask Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
We have also seen how wildly cheering crowds get the competitors in the NBA, World Cup, Indianapolis 500, Super Bowl, among others, going for the win. And these are huge sports events.
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So, calming the crowd so a top athlete can focus or concentrate only means a top athlete is not a top athlete.Why? Because top athletes must have “nerves of steel” that can withstand the maddening crowd, or shut off the external stimulus “to get into the zone.” Pacquiao and athletes such as Michael Jordan can do that. No excuses.
A cheering crowd that expects an athlete to win can also put so much pressure on the athlete. And Eala has shown she can deliver the win under that high-pressure scenario. That alone makes Eala such a remarkable athlete.
Let us also take note the multitudes of Filipinos who watch Eala from the gallery are not like the hooligans who give soccer a bad name. Them carrying placards saying “We love you Alex” and what have you, and waving the Philippine flag are expected from a very patriotic crowd. And I am sure other top tennis stars would love to have a crowd like that.
The fans of Eala over social media also made moves to “adopt” other tennis stars, such as Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey and Donna Vekic or Croatia, among others. And did I hear it right that Jessica Pegula of the United Statesis already part of that club? That would be nice.
Eala has also become a social media superstar over Facebook and YouTube, generating a big number of views compared to the other top players. And it is no surprise that is largely due to Filipino netizens.
Overall, the Filipino fans of Alex Eala are redefining what “energetic” tennis fans should be – cheering their hero in victory and defeat but not acting like hooligans, flooding social media channels featuring Eala, and “adopting” and cheering other tennis stars who have won their hearts.
Let me tell you – that is very good for tennis, because tennis needs to expand its appeal. And getting that “high energy” crowd to the gallery of the venues will definitely benefit the organizers of the events, because that can translate to more ticket sales. And revenues.
Let us also learn from boxing, still the “richest” sports today. Boxing has remained the richest sport today because the cheering and jeering (yes, jeering) crowdshelp greatly in pushing the pay per view (PPV) numbers and get the fights featured over Netflix.
So, imagine if the top matches in tennis gets into the PPV ecosystem or are aired over Netfliix? That will only be possible with a high energy crowd.
I also notice that there are non-Filipinos cheering Eala from the gallery. Expect them to increase in numbers as Eala sustains her winning ways.
If tennis gets more high energy crowds that can put the sport in the PPV ecosystem and NetFlix, I am very sure the WTA and the organizers of tennis events will end up smiling, including when going to the bank.