Alex Eala caught off guard by fan’s surprise 'marriage proposal'
Alex Eala received an unexpected marriage proposal from a fan during a recent appearance in New York ahead of the 2026 US Open.
The Filipina tennis star was meeting fans at a Nike event when a man suddenly got down on one knee and offered her a candy ring.
The fan was identified as tennis influencer and content creator Tony Zhao, who later shared a video of the moment on Instagram.
Eala appeared surprised by the gesture and broke into laughter before turning to her father, Mike Eala, for help. Her dad then stepped in and stood beside her, arms folded, adding to the lighthearted moment.
"I'll be good," Zhao can be heard saying.
The fan's playful proposal was captured on video and has since circulated online, with fans amused by Eala's reaction and her father's protective response.
"[W]e need a real ring," magician Anna de Guzman wrote in the comments.
"The whole PH is watching you bro careful now, she’s our national treasure hahaha," one user said.
While another one joked that Eala was "so nice to reject" him by having her dad do it for her.
Eala is currently in New York for the US Open, where she enters the women's singles draw as the No. 17 seed. She will begin her campaign against a qualifier.
The 21-year-old is coming off a breakthrough season that saw her claim her first WTA singles title at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington earlier this month. She defeated Jessica Pegula in the final after also beating top players including Elina Svitolina and Naomi Osaka along the way.