Manny Pacquiao, Robert Jaworski, Sr., Hidilyn Diaz, Carlos Yulo and Alexandra “Alex” Ila.
Among the few, those five athletes are gracing the huge, majestic mural palace in front of the new-look Rizal Memorial Tennis Center starring the young Filipina tennis sensation as the country rolls out the red carpet for the historic WTA 125 Philippine Women's Open main draw in front of an expected full capacity crowd at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Monday.
At just 20 years old, with her portrait already engraved on the Mount Rushmore of one of the greats of Philippine sport, with the entire country going tennis crazy, Ms. Ella first tore a page into a legend of her own in Round 1 of the 32-player main draw against Russian Alina Charaeva.
Ms. Ela, the first-ever top 50 Filipina player ranked WTA No. 49, will be in action as the No. 2 seed against WTA No. 163 Ms. Chareva in the Center Court main event of the eight-match opener starting at 7 p.m.
The 23-year-old Ms Chareva defeated Ms Ella 6-3, 6-3 in a singles match at her ITF days in Spain in 2020, seeking mastery at the expense of the Filipina sensation's huge homecourt advantage.
But despite the pressure, responsibility and tremendous challenge of winning on home turf, Ms. Ella will approach the duel with the same mindset as if she were competing in any WTA Tour city around the world.
“Yes, I have met her. She is a very nice person and a great player. So, I am just going and I have done everything to the best of my ability to prepare. So I am going to go and do my best,” Ms Ella, seeded second in the star-studded draw led by German veteran Tatjana Maria, WTA No. 42, vowed after fresh practice in front of a big crowd on Sunday. “Even though it's at home, my mentality is no different in that sense. I take it match by match. I'll do everything I can to win my first match. But if not, it is what it is. That's really tennis. I mean, you can't win all the time.”
Winning, after all, is just a bonus as Ms. Ella has already accomplished the ultimate goal of introducing tennis to the Philippine audience, with the hope that she will transform it from a sleepy sport to a mainstream one here – eight years after her last game at home.
Ms Ila, who was only 12 at the time, left the country in 2018 after winning the PHINMA-PSC International Junior Tennis Championships to study and train as a scholar at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain.
Now, she comes home to her first home tournament since turning professional, with the country hosting the WTA for the first time.
And she won't be the only one entering the battle field with three other Filipinas because that's a bigger accomplishment than playing and winning a premier tournament.
The country's second-ranked player Tennielle Madis faces Thai Mananchaya Savangkaew (WTA No. 197), UAAP MVP Kay Ann Imana of Santo Tomas faces Russia's Tatiana Prozorova (WTA No. 173), while National University's Elizabeth Abarquez faces Japan's Mai Hontama (WTA No. 244).
“Earlier when I was a junior, there were no tournaments like this at home. Fortunately, they are exposed to this level and competition now. The WTA brings a different atmosphere because of the professionalism, experience and especially the type of players in this category,” Ms Ella said.
“I think it's full of very good players and experienced players. When I was a junior and being able to participate in this tournament at that time, I was very curious and motivated, so I think it will be a great experience for everyone.”
From world-class competition to venues of international standards and interest at an all-time high in an unpopular sport, this is the legacy Ms. Ella wants to carry forward, not leave behind too soon in a noble mission for Philippine tennis that is just getting started.
And this is her first time hosting the WTA and her first professional home game here, regardless of win or loss.
“I feel very happy, especially with so many great names. It's hard to understand, especially the graffiti there, so I think it's a first for me. I think it's a first for me. It's a new experience, it's a new feeling,” she smiled at the mural at the now tourist spot that will welcome thousands of Filipino fans starting Monday.
“But it's hard to think about legacy and what legacy I want to leave because I'm only 20 years old. I still have many years ahead of me. And I have a lot to learn. I try my best and hope I can inspire people in a positive way. I try my best to carry myself with grace and humility. Thinking about legacy is something I haven't touched on yet, but I like to think that I can And the success I've had recently has contributed to the history and future of Philippine tennis here.” — John Brian Ulande