By Jason Cruz
NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Layup Drill. This time, we take a look at the U.S. Open and the Seahawks retaining a key part of its defense.
Eala-mania hits the U.S. Open
Alexandra Eala’s rise to superstardom cannot be denied. Earlier this summer, fans stood in line as early as 2 a.m. to get a chance to watch her play at Wimbledon. She scored huge wins against Naomi Osaka and the number 1 women’s tennis player, Aryna Sabalenka, this summer.
Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines, acknowledges the crowd after defeating Mary Stoiana, of the United States, in the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Last year, she came to prominence in the U.S. Open for her brief run during the ladies’ singles tournament. Even before her first match this year, the frenzy to watch the Filipino play was wild. The cheapest tickets to watch Eala play this past Tuesday surged to as high as $450. The reseller market increased 130% since the announcement of her first match.
In addition, Eala has been making the media rounds. Arguably, no Filipino athlete has received this much attention since Manny Pacquiao.
With all eyes seemingly on the 21-year-old, she won her opening match against American Mary Stoiana, beating her in straight sets. Eala’s match was featured on ESPN Tuesday night and she played on the second-largest court at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Louis Armstrong Stadium. While just the 17th seed in the tournament, expect Eala to receive attention like a top-seed during her run in New York.
In addition to her skyrocketing fandom, her earnings have jumped, too. According to Forbes, Eala has earned $5 million off the court this year in addition to the $1.7 million in prize money. The sports business website, Sportico, reports that no other tennis player this year has affected ticket prices once a match announcement was made. The resell prices for Eala’s first match jumped almost 100% from the original price.
Despite all of the fervor for Eala, most tournament organizers say she is a better person than she is a tennis player.
Osaka pays homage to Allen Iverson
Naomi Osaka’s pre-tennis match outfits are always something to behold. This year, Osaka’s first match paid homage to NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson. One of the first NBA players to make cornrows popular, Iverson won a Most Valuable Player award while playing with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Naomi Osaka, of Japan, arrives to compete against Anastasia Zakharova, of Russia, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Osaka entered Arthur Ashe Stadium Monday night wearing a long, white skirt and a gray hooded robe. She removed the hood to reveal cornrows and a headband similar to the style donned by Iverson.
Osaka paid tribute to Iverson because he was someone she looked up to. She identified his fashion and how his style changed the way NBA players dressed. Iverson had a relaxed style, which included ultra-baggy clothes. Notably, Osaka never spoke to Iverson but once he learned of her homage, he took to social media to state that he was honored and was also a big fan.
Osaka won her first round matchup and continued on in the U.S. Open. It is safe to say that many fans will be as interested in her outfit as her play when she returns.
Leonard Williams signs new contract
HBO’s reality sports documentary series, Hard Knocks, featured the Seattle Seahawks this preseason. The show reveals the ins and outs of the NFL training camp. Defensive lineman Leonard Williams was featured on multiple episodes of the series. Williams, a leader for the Super Bowl Champions, was featured on the show. They highlighted his family, including his 5-month old son, the garden he keeps to get his mind off of football, and his relationship with his teammates.
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams during warmups before an NFL preseason football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
In addition, the series was able to catch the news that WIlliams re-signed with the Seahawks. The 32-year-old signed a three-year, $90 million deal with $56 million guaranteed, which will keep him in Seattle through 2029. The deal makes him one of the highest-paid defensive lineman in the National Football League.
Williams made the announcement with his son on Seahawks’ social media telling fans, “I’m here to stay.” Williams is part Japanese.
The Seahawks play the first game of the NFL season on September 9th against the New England Patriots in a rematch of the Super Bowl from February.
Jason can be reached newstips@nwasianweekly.com.
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