Parks Silences Eala’s Crowd in Melbourne Thriller
Alycia Parks turned a first-set bagel into a gritty comeback on a raucous Court 6, her 12 aces powering a 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 upset over Alexandra Eala in the Australian Open first round.
In the humid buzz of Melbourne Park on January 19, 2026, Alycia Parks stared down more than Alexandra Eala’s precise groundstrokes—a sold-out Court 6 pulsed with Philippine flags and chants that drowned out the baseline cracks. The American, in her second main draw here, absorbed a 0-6 opener that felt like a crowd-fueled rout, but she regrouped with sharper serves and aggressive returns to claim the three-set victory. This Australian Open clash tested Parks’ mental edge amid a season of ranking swings, transforming external noise into internal fire.
“It was very difficult,” Parks said to reporters. “I was expecting it, but I (also) wasn’t. She definitely has a good crowd. I just kept telling myself to stay in the zone.”
The queue for Eala’s debut snaked toward Rod Laver Arena, hundreds deep with fans clutching green-and-red banners, their energy spilling into every corner of the outer court. Eala, the 20-year-old Filipina rising on the WTA Tour, fed off the roars, while Parks fought to block it out. By the second set, that focus sharpened her game on the Plexicushion hardcourts, where her power thrives.
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‘Let’s go Alex’ echoed after even routine points, the stands packed from sideline seats to the overlooking bar, no empty spots in sight. Parks later admitted the din pulled her from her plan early on, her eyes darting to the waving flags instead of the ball toss. Yet that admission fueled her shift, turning the match into a battle of wills as much as strokes.
First set succumbs to crowd roar
Eala pounced in the opener, grinding out a 20-point first game that ended with Parks mishitting two smash volleys at net, gifting the break on the hardcourt’s quick skid. From there, the Filipina’s crosscourt backhands with heavy topspin claimed eight of the next nine points, racing to a 3-0 lead in relentless fashion. The set wrapped in 34 minutes, a 6-0 bagel that amplified the crowd’s fervor, their cheers rippling across Melbourne Park like waves crashing against Parks’ resolve.
Parks’ first serves faltered under the pressure, landing short and inviting Eala’s deep returns that forced defensive lobs sailing long. The American’s baseline game, usually a weapon with inside-out forehands, turned tentative, her footwork lagging on the sun-baked surface. This early lapse exposed how the external energy eroded her tactical edge, a reminder of the psychological layers in pro tennis where a debutant’s hype can tilt the court.
As the changeover loomed, Parks sensed the need to reset, drawing on her experience from tougher draws earlier in 2026. The crowd’s intensity, once overwhelming, began to register as motivation rather than menace. Her path forward hinged on reclaiming the serve-volley dynamics that suit Melbourne’s pace.
Second set sparks tactical reset
Parks burst out in the second, breaking Eala early with aggressive returns that jammed the baseline, sprinting to a 3-0 lead as her first-serve percentage climbed above 70%. Aces started landing—part of the 12 she’d fire all match—hushing the chants momentarily and allowing her to dictate with inside-in forehands that pinned Eala deep. Though the Filipina leveled at 3-3 via a sharp down-the-line pass, Parks held her nerve, breaking back at 4-3 on a forehand winner off a short ball.
Serving for the set at 5-3, Parks mixed a body serve with heavy topspin, forcing Eala into a netted reply and leveling the match at one set apiece. She explained the pivot simply: recommitting to her spots and ignoring the spectators, which let her unleash the one–two pattern—big serve into deep crosscourt returns—that disrupted Eala’s rhythm. The crowd simmered as Parks’ power game adapted to the hardcourt’s speed, her athleticism now overwhelming the steady defense that had dominated early.
“I was starting to think I wasn’t focused on the game plan, which is why I played better in the second and third set,” Parks said. “I was just so focused on the crowd in the first set, which is why it went the way it went.”
Eala, gracious after the set, spoke of the support’s warmth cutting deeper in defeat. Her topspin-heavy style, effective on slower surfaces, struggled against Parks’ flat power here, where balls skid low and fast. With the decider ahead, Parks eyed a second-round date with Karolina Muchova or Jaqueline Cristian, opponents demanding the same unflinching aggression she was rediscovering.
Third set clinches resilient advance
In the breaker, Parks struck first, breaking on Eala’s double fault after a grueling game that left the Filipina’s legs heavy from chasing wide serves. Holding to 2-0, she traded holds until another break at 3-2, this time off an Eala backhand sailing long on a crosscourt attempt, her variety now mixing slice approaches to disrupt footing. At 4-2, Parks’ control was total, the American’s deep returns forcing errors in prolonged rallies.
Eala saved two match points with resilient passing shots, but Parks’ final serve—an ace down the tee—kicked sharply off the surface, sealing the 6-2 win and drawing applause from the subdued stands. The victory boosted Parks’ 2026 momentum, her aces exploiting Eala’s 40% second-serve win rate in a matchup where hardcourt dynamics amplified serve margins. As Eala lingered to sign autographs, her fans’ cheers lingered too, a bittersweet echo of the support that both inspired and intensified the loss.
“It was so heart-warming,” Eala said. “That’s one of the things that makes a loss like today a little bit harder is I know a lot of people were rooting for me. Then again Alycia played really well. And you know I just hope that the support continues with the losses along with the wins.”
Parks laughed off her crowd history post-match, embracing the underdog fire it ignites. This thriller on Court 6 marks a mental cornerstone for her season, blending tactical tweaks with emotional steel to propel deeper into Melbourne. With the Australian Open’s majors ahead, her poise against pressure sets the stage for ranking climbs and bolder baseline battles.
