Was Carlos Alcaraz coaching at that time?
Maybe there was some thriller going on with an Australian tennis player?
Or has a stand appeared that distributes free food?
No, the commotion was caused by Alexandra Eala from the Philippines, the 49th ranked tennis player in the world.
Thousands of Filipinos flocked to Melbourne Park for the Australian Open, creating a complete jam in front of court number six - the line stretched hundreds of meters, through the entire complex.
Eala's pre-tournament press conference was watched online by as many as 171.000 people, far exceeding the interest in the conferences of tennis superstars, such as Alcaraz and Coco Gauff (29.000 each) and Aryna Sabalenka (9.000).
Why did 20-year-old Eala cause such a frenzy?
Simply put, he is a big star in a Southeast Asian country that does not have a rich tennis tradition.
Her sensational victory over the six-time Grand Slam champion Igom Svjontek, at last year's Miami Open, changed her life forever.
“There were moments this week that were a little overwhelming, especially during practice,” Eala said.
"I didn't expect so many people. It's all part of the learning process. I'm just trying to absorb everything."
Eala, who grew up in Rafael Nadal's academy, has long been considered a boundary-breaker - in 2021, she became the first Filipina to win a match on the WTA Tour.
A year later, she made history by winning the junior US Open - the first from the Philippines - which also earned her the cover of the local edition of Vogue magazine (Vogue).
Although legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao Still the country's most famous sports figure, Eala's successes have made her a symbol of a new generation.
"She always proudly carries the flag and represents her country, it's something that reaches out to everyone," says Imei Wi, a Filipina who traveled from Sydney just to watch Eala.
"She's becoming a national heroine. People stop everything they're doing to watch her matches."
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What we saw in Eala's debut in the Australian Open main draw shouldn't have come as a complete surprise.
While some, like Vi, traveled from other cities, the majority of fans arrived from Melbourne's Filipino community, which numbers about 60.000 people.
On Monday, January 19th, it seemed like absolutely everyone came to watch her first-round singles match, and a day later they showed up again in large numbers for her doubles match.
"I'm still young and learning how to deal with all this attention, but at the same time I'm grateful," Eala said.
Despite clear indications that a large number of fans would come to watch it, it seems that the organizers were taken aback.
The decision to play her match against American Alicia Parks on court number six, which holds around 1.500 spectators, has come under serious question.
"I couldn't believe how big the lines were, who works in that organizational team," British tennis player Anne Ketawong tells BBC Radio 5.
Fans are disappointed with the way everything was organized.
Some stood outside the court for hours to see Eala, only to be told by security to move away shortly after the match began.
The Australian Open, responding to a fan complaint on the social media platform Xu, said it would "take it as a lesson" for next year.
Organizers then scheduled the doubles match between Eale and Ingrid Martins from Brazil on court number 14, at around 19 p.m. local time.
Security guards patrolled the grounds, while the line to enter was forming again.
However, this time, it was about dozens, not thousands of people.
“We are overjoyed by her success, so we get a little too excited,” Vi said.
"But this is the first time a player from the Philippines is performing here, so our behavior was an expression of excessive joy, not disrespect for our opponent."
However, the euphoria of the Filipino fans drew criticism from others, who accused them of inappropriate behavior for chanting and celebrating Alicia Parks' mistakes.
The American, however, ultimately emerged victorious, coming back after a disastrous first set - winning 2:1 in sets (0-6, 6-3, 6-2).
“We have to give Parks a lot of credit,” says Ketawong.
"After losing the first set without winning a game and having practically the entire crowd against her, the way she stayed composed and turned the match around was truly impressive."
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