What started as an ordinary photo session in New York turned into a memorable Pinoy celebrity moment for Shuvee Etrata—all because a familiar voice suddenly called her name.
The Kapuso star recently opened up about her unexpected encounter with Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala in New York City, admitting that she couldn’t hide her excitement when she realized who had approached her.
Shuvee recalled that she was in Soho, taking photos against a wall and enjoying the sights of the city, when someone suddenly called out, “Shuvee!”
At first, she wondered who was calling her.
Then she realized it was Eala.
According to Shuvee, Alex herself had recognized her and approached her, turning the chance meeting into an unforgettable fangirl moment.
“Oh my gosh, I totally fangirled. Fangirling at its finest,” Shuvee recalled.
She also couldn’t help but gush over Eala’s appearance and personality, describing the tennis star as beautiful, tall and remarkably warm.
Shuvee said she was particularly happy that the two were able to exchange a few words in Filipino during their encounter.
From random encounter to instant fangirl moment
The meeting was first shared publicly in August after Sparkle posted photos of the two Filipinas together in New York.
Shuvee, who was visiting the city as part of her U.S. trip, was photographed smiling beside Eala. She also posted about the encounter on Instagram, addressing the tennis star as “Hi queen!”
The two were already following each other on Instagram, making the encounter less of a meeting between complete strangers and more of a surprise reunion between two young Filipina personalities.
Their New York meeting also happened at a particularly significant moment in Eala’s career.
Eala’s star power was exploding in New York
Eala was in New York for the 2026 US Open, where she entered the women’s singles draw as the No. 17 seed and was coming off a historic rise on the international tennis circuit.
Just days before the tournament, GMA reported that Eala had reached a career-high world ranking of No. 18 and was carrying the highest Grand Slam seeding of her career. Four years earlier, she had made history by becoming the first Filipina to win the US Open girls’ singles title.
Her popularity was also becoming increasingly visible beyond the tennis courts.
A New York Times report documented the growing enthusiasm among Filipino-Americans in Queens and at the US Open, with Filipino fans traveling to watch Eala, waving Philippine flags and treating her matches as major cultural events.
The Times of India likewise reported that Filipino supporters packed Eala’s practice sessions at Flushing Meadows, carrying Philippine flags and wearing “Laban Alex” shirts as the excitement surrounding the Filipina star intensified.
That growing fandom makes Shuvee’s reaction especially relatable: even a fellow celebrity couldn’t resist becoming an Eala fangirl.
Eala’s US Open run ends in a thriller
Eala ultimately delivered the strongest US Open singles campaign of her career, reaching the third round for the first time.
Her run ended on September 5 against American Iva Jovic in a dramatic three-set battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The official US Open reported that Jovic defeated Eala 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, with the two young players producing an entertaining and fiercely contested match.
Reuters described the encounter as a three-hour battle between close friends, with Jovic eventually overcoming Eala after momentum repeatedly shifted throughout the match.
Despite the loss, Eala called the US Open campaign a “forever kind of memory,” reflecting on what was a landmark week in her young career.
And Shuvee wasn’t the only one caught up in “Eala mania”
Eala’s growing popularity has extended well beyond Filipino tennis fans.
From New York’s Filipino community to international media coverage, the 21-year-old has increasingly become one of the Philippines’ most recognizable young athletes. Philstar recently described her transformation from an underdog into a tennis phenom, while international coverage has highlighted the remarkable following she is building among Filipinos worldwide.
For Shuvee, however, the global attention surrounding Eala simply made their unexpected encounter even more special.
After all, sometimes even celebrities become fans when they meet someone they genuinely admire.
And for Shuvee Etrata, running into Alex Eala in the middle of New York City was clearly one of those moments she won’t soon forget.
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